Report on Conditions

On Elevators

2012-02-12T19:42:00.000-08:00

Mad Jack, a fellow blogger, asked me recently about elevators, mainly do they ever fall and how do you get them unstuck.

I should have responded to his comment earlier, but me being the derelict blogger that I am, I let several days go by without responding. That and the lengthy answer made me decide to write a post, one primarily for those who do not deal with these issues very often, if at all.

This is not a lesson plan for dealing with elevator emergencies, my knowledge is narrow and old. There are many out there who deal with these daily and are far more proficient at mitigating them. This is more me telling about how I dealt with the ones in my district, back in the day.

As for as the "do they ever fall?" question, I am sure that it has happened, but so many things would have to go wrong in order for it to happen that it basically never does.

Most of our elevator problems consist of an elevator getting stuck between floors. When I say between floors, I mean that the elevator car is not wholly aligned with the hoist-way door. When this occurs, neither the elevator car door, nor the hoist-way door will open and the car will remain stopped. The occupants usually do not like this very much and will hit the alarm button or use the elevator car telephone if provided. Occasionally, a trapped occupant may be slightly claustrophobic and begin to panic. This is not a positive experience for anyone in the elevator car.

The reasons for the car stopping are many, but it usually is one of a few things. For us, probably the main reason for a stoppage is a "fart" in the computer that controls the elevator. These computers, as with any computer, occasionally decide to freeze up and the system comes to a halt. Many of them have a reset procedure that consists of hitting several buttons on the various circuit boards in the elevator control box. Once reset, the system restores and the elevator continues on it's merry way. Sometimes, if the reset procedure is not known, power to the computer will be removed and it will reboot. The result is the same as resetting it.

Sometimes, a hoist-way door or even the car door will not close properly or not trip the appropriate switch, causing the system to stop. Rattling the hoist-way doors and having the occupants rattle the car door may correct the problem.

Older elevators have a mechanical inertia switch located on the cable drum at the top of the hoist-way. It's job is to detect if the car is moving too fast and shut the elevator down. It can easily be reset, restoring the system. One of the elevators at City Hall had a bad inertia switch, if people got a little froggy inside the elevator car, the inertia switch would trip and we would have to go up and reset it. We put up with it for a few years before the elevator was removed from service. A remodel of the other two elevators increased speed enough that the problem child was no longer needed. I don't know if it was ever restored.

My procedure in dealing with stuck elevators was to first make sure the RP had contacted an elevator tech and have them respond. Most reputable elevator maintenance companies will send someone immediately if someone is stuck. I like having them there, as occasionally they can resolve the issue more efficiently than we can. Having a tech there also usually causes a mechanical issue to be resolved immediately, reducing further responses.

Once we arrive, we locate the car and make contact with the occupants. This is accomplished by shouting through the hoist-way doors. Words of reassurance go a long way in keeping stuck occupants calm. While contact is made, some of the crew will rattle doors, often on their way to the elevator control box, usually in the basement or up in the attic, above the elevator. The second in officer goes to the lobby and tries the fire service control key, sometimes that will immediately recall the car to the lobby where the occupants will be let out.

If those things don't work, we will reset the control computer. That usually takes a few minutes, but often works.

If none of those work, it will then be necessary to pick the hoist-way door, then manually release the car door from the outside. There are special tools to do this, it is not that difficult. The hard part is remembering where the locking devices are and how to manipulate them. As you may see a particular elevator only once in your career, it helps if that info is in a pre-plan book. There isn't a high degree of standardization between elevator manufacturers, especially the older ones. Plus, elevators are modified during the course of their lives, things aren't always put back together the same way as before. Once the doors are opened, the occupants can be removed. Sometimes a ladder is needed if the car is not close to the hoist-way door.

If you have to pick the door to remove the occupants, IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT POWER TO THE ELEVATOR IS SHUT DOWN FIRST! Better yet, lock it out of you can. The last thing anyone needs is for whatever problem to correct itself and for the to car start moving while someone is half in or half out of it. Though rare, it has happened (or so I've been told)

Sometimes, the tech arrives quickly and resolves the issue for you. That is good. Sometimes, people feel the need to "force" the doors causing damage. This is not so good. I hear the jaws can really mess up a hoist-way door, so don't use them. Unless. of course, it's me stuck in the elevator and happy hour will be over in a few minutes. Then use dynamite if you have to.

Thanks for reading,
Schmoe

Like I said, there are A LOT of peeps that could tell you a lot more than me, this is just what we did at the big house, back in the day. Many of our problem children have been re-habbed or replaced since then,

No Habla

2012-02-11T22:51:00.000-08:00

I don't know J very well, I have spoken with him only three or four times over the past twenty two years. The first time was in 1990, when I purchased the house that J grew up in, the house where I still live. The second was a few months ago, in my driveway when J dropped by to visit a neighbor.The third time that I spoke with J was last week, when he dropped by my neighbors house at a time when I happened to be over there.

J is in the construction business, much like his father before him. Due to the lack of building activity and the influx of cheap labor, J has had to modify his business over the years. J now is in the property re-hab business.

When a bank takes possession of a property, it is often in a distressed state. The bank may contract with someone like J, who will come in and make the property fit to occupy. Usually, this endeavor includes paint, flooring, some fixtures and appliances and some landscape maintenance.

Though there are a lot of properties that need to be re-habbed, there are also a lot of contractors who provide this service. As the banks are already taking a pretty good hit on these projects, they don't want to put any more money into them than they have to. Thus, cost control is a leading factor in obtaining this kind of work. Profit margins on these jobs are not very large.

J was having an issue on one of his projects last week, it was bothersome enough for him to share it with us. It involved a property which required significant re-hab before it could be put on the market. J had done the usual stuff, plus some cabinetry repair and some electrical work, including replacing some wiring and all of the switches and receptacles. The flooring had been laid on Monday, finishing the project, with the exception of a stove which had to be ordered.

The stove arrived on Wednesday morning. J decided to install it that afternoon, then photographically document the finished project, so he could submit his invoice and collect his cash. When he arrived at the project, he was surprised to find cars in the driveway and signs that someone had decided to move in. His key no longer fit the front door and the gate to the rear yard was locked.

J knocked on the door and a woman answered. J inquired as to the purpose of the woman's presence inside the house. The reply was "no habla". Further one sided conversation produced no further statements from the woman, though some non-verbal communication indicated that the woman had no intention of leaving and was not fearful of J nor anyone else.

At some point, the woman produced a rental agreement (written in English) and pointed out the areas where it spelled out the specifics for renting the house. The woman still claimed "no habla".

J asked if he could enter the house to document his labors, the woman would not allow it. It was at this point that J realized that he was screwed. Even though J doesn't own the house, the likelihood of receiving the $14,000 owed to him for materials and labor is slim, at least until the squatters can removed from the house and his work documented.

By the time that is accomplished, everything done to the home will be destroyed and anything of any value will have been removed. Depending on J's relationship with the bank, he may have to start over and complete the project a second time before receiving any money. Regardless, it will be a long, long time - if ever, before J gets a dime out of this deal.

At the best, the current occupants of the house are victims as well and have been defrauded. At worst, they are part of the scam and will enjoy many months in the house rent free. The woman's ability to point to the proper sections of the rental agreement despite a language barrier lead me to believe that they are scammers who have done this sort of thing before. Either way nobody is moving out anytime soon and J is going to have to eat that 14 grand for a while.

As there was a one day window between the completion of the flooring and his attempt to deliver the stove, J believes that they were watching the house and then pounced on it when the time was right. He was a little surprised at the sophistication of these squatters, he is used to dealing with transients occupying the homes. Transients usually just move on when challenged and never produce fraudulent rental agreements.

I have read about squatters using similar tactics. Some were just criminals looking to scam unwary renters, others were just looking for somewhere to stay rent free. There is even a group who advocates squatting in bank-owned houses as a method of correcting perceived social injustice.

I doubt J cares which of these scenarious applies to the property that he has been working on. He just wants his 14 large.

Thanks for reading,
Schmoe

Car Trouble

2012-02-09T15:59:00.000-08:00

They, those people, say that there is ~~always~~ usually an element of truth to most jokes and attempts at humor. I tend to agree, this cartoon argues my point:

click to enlarge

Maybe we should ALL take the insurance money and buy a better camera!

I don't read this comic every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, but I do read it often. It is from a webcomic called XKCD which publishes a new strip every MWF.. I could very easily see this discussion going on in photography class, much in the depicted fashion.

Photographers, like firefighters, tend to be mission focused and most like to have the best available tools to accomplish the mission. Even if they don't have a car to haul their gear around in.

I'm just sayin'.

Thanks for reading,
Schmoe

My Peeps, Saving Her Peeps

2012-02-08T09:22:00.000-08:00

I received the following text a few minutes ago:

LOL! FD here for elevator malfunction...6 peeps stuck.

She was kind enough to snap a few pics and send them along.

Oddly enough, I was in the den when the call came through and I heard it on the radio. As they went to a TAC channel, I couldn't hear the details but from the looks of the second picture, it appears that they got them out just fine.

These guys are from Sta. #1, aka the Big House, where I was assigned for quite a few years back in the day. A four person engine and a three person truck should have been the response.

There are numerous elevators in the district, some of which tended to be problem children. The building in the above photos is only a few years old and other that the usual "new building" alarm issues, hasn't been much of a problem. Hopefully it stays that way.

BTW, here was my response to The Saint:

LOL my peeps rescuing ur peeps! I hope u gave them a hug for me.

I was serious about the hug, I miss these guys! I'm guessing that they had already cleared by the time my reply hit The Saint's phone. Maybe I'll just have to do it myself.

Thanks for reading,
Schmoe

On Strike

2012-02-07T18:27:00.000-08:00

I love me a good protest. A group of people that are pissed off enough to grab a sign, chant and march through the streets usually make for a good photographic learning experience.

This post isn't about whether the protester's ire is justified or whether public employees should be allowed to strike, it's about me learning to take effective photos. Frankly I need the practice - I already know what I am going to focus on next time I get the opportunity.

The SEIU local representing semi-professionals for the County of Riverside were just that upset last week and went on a one day walk-out. I just couldn't pass it up.

I got there a little late, this is the crowd during a rally outside the County Admin Center. This was just after the had been booted from the Board of Supervisors meeting. I wish I had been here for that!

As with any good rally, speakers were present to get the troops fired up.

One of the speakers was a candidate for State Senate. He used to be a State Assemblyman, back in the day. I don't know what he's been up to lately, but I do know that he was VERY pro fire service when he was in the assembly.

After the rally, a picket line was formed in the parking area near the Administrative Center. It was basically a large circle and appeared to be designed to not interfere with people entering and exiting the building.

I sort of know this one, she can be trouble!

I spotted my buddy the fire marshal, patrolling the edge of the crowd. I heard that he had asked some protesters to leave the atrium area of the admin center earlier in the day, as they were blocking the exits. I don't know if it's true or not, I haven't had the chance to ask him. I snapped his picture from a couple of hundred feet away - I'll probably send it to him for his "I Love Me" wall.

After a break for lunch, it was time to take the show on the road. It seemed as the crowd grew for the march, I am unsure why. Maybe some workers who went into the office in the morning decided to walk at lunch, maybe some folks from other bargaining groups showed up late. I really don't know.

With a crowd that large, marching through the streets is going to impact traffic.

Being stuck in traffic rarely is an environment that wins friends. An orderly protest and an RPD presence helped ensure that everyone played nice and behaved themselves. Democracy in action.

After the march, things kind of slowed down and I left. I met the Saint at the Salted Pig and we enjoyed an adult beverage or two. The number of people wearing purple shirts inside and the stack of signs at the door led to me believe that the Salted Pig was the end-game for many. Good pick.

What did I learn from all of this? I learned that I need to spend more time capturing the human element of the event and less time on the event itself. I saw some pictures that the SEIU had taken and I liked them much better. They showed the emotion of some of the participants displayed, something that I missed. I guess there is always next time. As this is the county seat, there is often some form of protest going on so there is always an opportunity to learn.

Thanks for reading,
Schmoe

Artsy-Fartsy

2012-02-04T23:02:00.000-08:00

I can tell when I stop going to school, just like I could tell when I stopped going to seminars and courses back when I was on the job. I tend to get stale, stay inside my box and stop experimenting with my camera. As a result, I am trying to stay in school, whether at the UC, the CC or in various seminars.

Today, my composition class went on a field trip to the Botanic Gardens at the local UC campus. I had been to the gardens a few times before, once when the Saint I Am Married To and I were engaged and a few other times on calls. I had forgotten how big the place was and how beautiful. There was no shortage of things to photograph.

We spent about three hours, wandering the place and taking pictures. As one of my classmates forgot the battery for her camera and I had the only camera that used the same battery, we actually shared the battery. A few of these shots were taken only because I was standing in the area, waiting for her to finish her shot. In the end, it all worked out. It will be interesting to see how her photos turned out, I will get to do so at the next meeting when all of our images will be publicly critiqued.

None of these are images that I would have taken were I not in this class. There are several talented photographers in it, I notice that there are more talented people in each one. It is good to see their work and learn from the experience. Hopefully, some of their artsy-fartsyness will rub off.

Thanks for reading,
Schmoe

From the Almost Didn't Go Files

2012-01-31T16:44:00.000-08:00

Training burns. I have been to quite a few over the years, the early ones were pure joy and gobs of information was gleamed from them. As time wore on, the joy factor decreased and though I learned something from each one, the quantity of new information decreased as well.

I always enjoyed taking new people to training burns, it was kind of a joy by proxy. The new people had both high joy factors and learning factors. A very good situation for them and it gave me joy to see them experience joy. It also gave us a chance to see people that probably weren't going to work out. Training burns have a subtle way of providing an early warning system for people who really should be doing something else for a living.

From a photography standpoint, training burns are a challenge. If you want good interior shots, you have to be bunkered out. It is a BITCH to compose, meter and shoot quality shots from your stomach in full PPE and SCBA. Visibility is always a challenge, positioning is dictated by the fire and by where the students need to access the fire.

Exterior shots are a challenge as well, because the urgency, drama and tension from actual incidents are not present in most of the participants. It is also hard to convey the joy that occurs when the noise of the fire is surpassed by the sound that the water makes as it leaves the nozzle and vanquishes the enemy. The shouts of fellow firefighters, muffled by the smoke cannot be transferred to the visual medium photography either. For those of us who have experienced it, photos often are an incomplete delivery of significant events. Training burns compound this effect.

Thus, when I was notified of this burn, I almost passed. The desire to see some old friends was the primary reason for going. That and the need to practice fireground photographic operations combined to force me to head down to the site of a burn held by my agency recently.

And to think that I didn't wanna go!

What was I thinkin?

A rookie gets some saw time. As there are numerous houses to

destroy and only a few to burn, there should be plenty of saw time

for the new people.

The RIC team was activated after a simulated firefighter fell through

the hole in the previous photo.

After it was over, a huddle was held, what went right was discussed

as well as what what went wrong. Everybody attended, except the

"victim".

I don't think he felt up to it.

When I first arrived, I spoke with the Training Chief and my old Battalion Chief, both of whom came on with me. We talked about how training burns are run a lot differently than back in the day, we agreed that the changes were for the good. We are probably lucky that we never hurt anyone back then, lord knows that we tried.

It was a good training session and am glad that I went. Next time I won't be so reluctant.

Thanks for reading,

Schmoe

Heal Fast Fellas

2012-01-25T10:03:00.000-08:00

I just got this E-Mail regarding some formerly green-clad brothers that were injured while fighting a structure fire yesterday down in Indio, a small city located in the eastern end of our county.

On Tuesday at 7:18am CalFire responded to a residential structure fire (‘Paseo Fire’) in the 81000 block or Paseo Real, City of Indio. Initial arriving firefighters found a well involved garage fire and began their search for victims and fire attack. While knocking down the fire in the garage, it appears some of the garage roof truss structure collapsed leading to structural debris knocking the firefighters to the ground and covering them. Below is the status of the injuried FF’s:

• Fire Station 80 Firefighter II, Tom “T.J.” Frazier, 32, was transported to Desert Regional Medical Center where he was admitted and underwent orthopedic surgery for three fractures of the tibia/fibula bone structure in the lower right leg. Last evening, T. J. underwent successful surgery and continues to recover at Desert Regional Medical Center, Room 2212. The CAL FIRE Tuolumne-Calaveras family transported his wife from Sonora where they live to Riverside County to be with T. J.

• Fire Station 80 Firefighter II-Paramedic Mike Vera, 30 suffered a concussion and back strain. Early yesterday afternoon, Mike was released from Desert Regional Medical Center and is at home recovering.

• Fire Station 88 Firefighter II-Paramedic Michael Lambert, 31, was transported to JFK Memorial Hospital. Mike was evaluated for a possible concussion and C-3 cervical vertebrae fracture. Very fortunately, a MRI showed no problem with the vertebrae structure. Mike has been released to recover at home.

I don't know any of these guys by name, but may by sight. It sounds like they were lucky that it wasn't any worse. Cal-Fire does a good job down in the low desert, they work on good command and control and RIC/ff survival procedures. It looks like it may have paid off for them.

Heal fast fellas, here's hoping you get can back on the rig soon.

A slide-show depicting the overhaul and investigation is available here.

I thank God almost every day that this never happened to me or any of my crew. I pray it never happens to any of you as well.

I'll keep you posted if any further info comes out.

Thanks for reading,

Schmoe

The World Turned Pink

2012-01-24T22:44:00.000-08:00

I started back at school again after taking a quarter off. I'm taking a course in photographic composition, a course that has more to do with art than with cameras or exposure.

I have an assignment due tomorrow so I wanted to get it done tonight and be done with it until next week. I chose a building that faces west in hopes of being able to use the golden glow that the last hour of daylight brings.

I was mostly disappointed with the early results, but things were beginning to turn around. I was busy snapping and noticed that the subject of my photos were beginning to turn pink.

Thinking it was a white balance issue, I checked my camera, then looked over my shoulder.

What a great time to be a photography student.

You might have to suffer with some artsy-fartsy stuff every once in a while, classes like this make me take photos of stuff that I ordinarily wouldn't. Frankly, that is why i take these classes - they make me do stuff out of my comfort zone.

Thanks for reading,
Schmoe

Paper Trail Ka-Boom!

2012-01-19T19:29:00.000-08:00

Hint to everybody who carries a briefcase, camera bag, backpack or any other container that could contain a hazardous device:

Don't leave it unattended!

Especially in a courthouse on a day that several vague bomb threats were received by local officials.

I didn't catch the actual ka-boom, but I did capture the aftermath. According to The Press Enterprise, our local rag, a legal courier left his briefcase unattended inside the courthouse. It aroused suspicion and authorities were called.

It was determined that the best course of action was to remove the briefcase to the street and detonate it. The above shot is of what remains. The only person in the photo who is interested in the debris is the guy in civilian clothes. I wonder if it was his briefcase?

Three courthouses in the area were evacuated, totally screwing up the court calendars for all three. Several streets in the area were closed off, the above shot was taken from a block away.

I was downtown, taking The Saint That I Am Married To out for lunch and saw the debris field that had been blown out into the street. I'm guessin' not much was saved. Ka-Boom indeed!

I may be looking for a part time gig - maybe there is an opening at the legal courier service place?

Thanks for reading,
Schmoe

Might be the Last Time

2012-01-18T12:30:00.000-08:00

If everything goes to plan and things don't get horribly delayed, this might be the last time that this floor gets stripped and waxed.

I'm not saying that the floor won't get mopped or even waxed, it's just that this is likely the last time this floor will be stripped to the tiles and new wax put on.

The station is being prepped for the annual inspection which occurs every January. As the new crib is scheduled to be completed this fall, this floor should be a scant memory by the time next January rolls around. The floors in the new station are reported to be finished concrete, I don't know what maintenance they will require.

I do know that I have been assigned to stations with old school tile as pictured above, no wax tile, no wax vinyl flooring, linoleum and ceramic floor tile. All have required some form of "special" maintenance on a semi regular basis. Hopefully the finished concrete floor will have minimal maintenance requirements, I believe that was the purpose for selecting those floors.

I spent more than a few years at this station, as a firefighter and as a captain. The area covered in tile has shrunk considerably over the years, the kitchen and heads are all that are left covered in tile. One hallway has vinyl flooring - a remnant of when the downstairs was reconfigured from offices into a video studio. A hodge-podge of carpet covers the rest of the place, some of it needing replacement. As the building should be vacant within a year, I doubt any of it will be replaced anytime soon.

The annual inspection also covers apparatus and equipment. Although the crews won't have to work too hard on the station next year, the apparatus will be the same and will require the same effort to get squared away. With a Type 1 and a Type 3 engine, a truck co, a squad, a BC's wagon plus a spare and a utility truck, the apparatus alone takes a while to detail out for the inspection.

Most crews do a good job keeping up on things - at a place like the Big House, things can get away from you if you don't.

I'm sure a little slack will be given, as the chiefs know that the new place will be open and money hasn't been spent on the old house. They still want to see some effort though, it's stations that have not expended any effort for the inspection that have gotten beat up over it. Frankly, they had it coming.

I've said it before, I'll say it again. Though annual inspections are a pain in the ass, they are necessary. They show everyone involved that everybody still cares.

Thanks for reading,
Schmoe

Disbelief

2012-01-15T23:02:00.000-08:00

I had really intended to write a good post tonight, but my heart isn't in it. I am mourning the loss by the Packers to the NY Giants. I usually don't get that worked up over any sort of game, but the appalling manner in which Green Bay played tonight had me saying bad words and throwing things at the TV.

The above actions were performed without the assistance of beer, I was so pissed off that I never got around to getting one from the garage fridge. It's probably a good thing, an empty beer bottle would likely create havoc when thrown through a TV screen.

The Saint I am married to was smart enough to make chicken and dumplings for dinner, a dish which does not require knives, forks or any other sharp instruments to consume. It's pretty hard to hurt yourself with a spoon.

I am hoping that she still lets me go to the desert tomorrow, some friends and I are supposed to haul some firearms up there and blast away at some steel plates. She allowed me to load the weapons into el cheepo jeepo, but balked when I asked for the key to the ammo locker. I should be my old jovial self in the morning, hopefully she will relent and let me take some ammo.

I felt kind of bad for the Bronco fans yesterday, little did I know that I would be in the same boat today.

Thanks for reading,
A despondent Schmoe

Somebody's Getting a New Engine

2012-01-12T08:40:00.000-08:00

On a recent trip to the Fire Engine Doctor's recently, I found exactly one new engine being readied for delivery. Of course I felt a need to take some pictures and share them.

This engine has been at the doctor's for several weeks getting equipment, mounting brackets and storage accessories installed. After all of that is done, it will be accepted and off to the radio shop it will go.

It is a pretty conventional engine, just a few things that are sort of unique to it and the agency where it will be put to work.

Top mount pump panels are not that common around here, but we love them. As 12 of our 14 stations spend a lot of time on the freeway, we like the protection and the visibility that the top mount panel provides the engineer. Every structure engine that we have purchased since I came on in 1983 has had one, four engines prior to that were so equipped. I can't think of any agencies within a couple of hundred miles of here that use them, it is part of our culture.

This engine is going to replace a '90s vintage E-1, one which is rather tired. The E-1 will be retained as a reserve engine, a role that it will keep for five years or more. We just can't keep enough reserve engines around here, we have a few that are almost 25 years old. A reserve engine's life around here is not an easy one, they are in service more often than not.

We like electro-mechanical sirens, especially the Federal Q2B. Although I have no hard data to back it up, it is my experience that the Q2B is louder than the electronic sirens. I was lucky, our units were equipped with both. I usually used the electronic siren as a turn it on and forget it device, useful when my face was buried in the map or pre-plan book. The Q2B was used as necessary. Of course the air horn was liberally applied as required. I miss mashing the foot switch and hearing that Q2B howl.

This will be our first engine with the mandated high visibility paint pattern on the rear end, though the haz-mat unit is so equipped. Meh.

This will also be the first engine in the last 30+ years which is not equipped with a Detroit Diesel engine. Apparently, Detroit is out of the fire apparatus engine market, so a Cummins engine it is.

The crews at 2s will enjoy this engine, I am quite sure that it will provide many years of service.

Thanks for reading,
Schmoe

Irony

2012-01-11T10:54:00.000-08:00

I published my last post late Saturday night. In it, I lamented about how dry it has been and how warm. Less than 12 hours later, I hear a vegetation fire go down, in a location that has historically given us some problems.

Last winter, I wouldn't have given it a second thought. Due to the present dry conditions, I mulled over driving out there and snapping a few pictures. A look out the window and seeing the trees bending in a swift wind made my decision, I needed to go. Of course I wasn't dressed (I had slept in for once), so it took a few minutes for me to get into the jeep and then head across town.

The radio reports said that they had about half an acre in flashy fuel with a strong wind giving it a moderate to rapid rate of spread. The first-in engine claimed it, named it and opted to attack the head. According to a friend of mine who happened to be on that engine said that they really had to get on it, as the head was moving pretty quick. Fortunately, their efforts paid off and they caught it right away. Unfortunately for me, they also ruined any opportunity for good photos. As I was already there, I chose to take a few photos of mop-up operations. Some times you just have to take what you can get.

You can see last year's growth along with the stubby growth from that resulted the small amount of rain that we received in early December.

Blue sky, twenty knot wind and 14% relative humidity. Yee-haaw. As it was, they held the fire to just under an acre. While it ended up being not much, remember it is early January. This should not have burned at all.

I have been on a few fires at this very location and have pulled hose through some of the back yards that lie behind the fences that you see in the above photo. That wasn't an issue today, the fire was kept north of the bike path. The bike path made it easy for the engines to access the fire as well.

If not for the efforts of the first-in engine, this would have turned into a big deal. It;s good they picked it up.

As for the warm, dry weather, it's not all bad.

Some just can't get enough of it.

Thanks for reading,
A warm Schmoe

"They" Say

2012-01-07T22:54:00.000-08:00

They, the old gravely voiced ones, used to say that it's not the fire season after a wet winter that will kick your ass, it's the season after that.

A lot of those guys were remarkable in their knowledge - that of history, experience and weather patterns. They were remarkable in appearance as well. The tobacco stained fingers or teeth, the limps and the bags under their eyes. They had been in the business for a long time. Some had started their careers as "fire truck drivers" long before there were captains, engineers and firefighters all riding the engines at the same time. Back when the IC was known as the fire boss and when Smokey was a cub. Some of those guys put out the burning bush, shortly after Moses found the tablets and called it in.

Last year was a very wet winter throughout most of our state. This year, not so much. With the exception of San Diego county and the southwestern corner of my county, the state of California is way behind on rainfall. It has also been unseasonably warm.

My city has received exactly 1/10th of an inch of rain since December 1st, 2 inches would be closer to normal. The high temperatures have not been below the mid-70s since Christmas eve, most days the high temps were in the 80s. While not extreme fire weather by any means, the warm dry weather, which is believed to be caused by a "La Nina" weather pattern, may be the foretelling of a hot dry summer and a long fire season.

We did receive some early rain in October and November, it's appearance pretty much eliminated fire season this year. Last years growth is still present, the brown ,dead fuels mixed with the stunted growth from that fall moisture . In August, barring meaningful moisture, both will be dead and tinder dry - waiting for the Santa Ana winds to turn small incidents into major events. It is always a matter of which arrives in Southern California first - the winds or the rain.

Should the rains arrive first (as they did this fall) fire season ends early and the seasonal firefighters get laid off. The limited term promotions expire and everybody goes back to their regular assignments. If the winds arrive first, things can go to hell in a hurry. Staffing patterns are enacted and wildland firefighters all over the state might spend several weeks at work without getting to go home. It's always a crap shoot.

Maybe the gravelly voiced ones only anecdotally remember the various bad fire seasons and the winters that preceded them. Or, maybe, their recollections are more detailed than that and are compounded by the lore of the gravelly voiced ones that they learned their craft from. Regardless, I remember their words, if for nothing more than see if they are right.

If so, this summer and fall might be good ones to be out of the game and to document them with a camera. Time will tell.

Thanks for reading.,
Schmoe

Out With The Old...

2012-01-04T23:03:00.000-08:00

...In with the new.

Work on the new "Big House" progresses. I was able to spend an hour or so there yesterday, of course I had my camera. After spending more than a few years at the existing station, there is part of me that will miss the place, despite my knowing that the building is in dire need of replacement.

It is my understanding that the new station is a few weeks behind schedule, a situation caused by external influences beyond the department's control. It's a shame, as there have been very few delays caused by weather - it would have been nice to get this wrapped up a little early.

They are finishing up the steel framing, exterior coverings come next.

Anybody wanna guess what this architectural feature is? I'll give you a few hints, it has both aesthetic and functional purposes. The outcropping will be sheathed in glass and lit from within. When in use, the activity within will be visible to the public and will likely be well recieved. I can't wait to use it, though my getting to do so will require permission.

This is a three story station. The app floor, equipment storage, a reception area and a small museum will be located on the first floor. Living quarters will be on the second floor and department administrative offices will be on the third.

If I was the chief, my office would be a glass penthouse on the roof and I would make someone from the other battalion come down and wash the windows every Sunday, right after breakfast.

I am quite sure the chief will have a good view from his office on the third floor, besides I don't think the people in the new building across the street would like looking down into my glass walled office. It's probably a good thing that I never made chief.

I also think that the "feel" of the new place will be entirely different from the old. This building feels to me more like an office building, rather than a comfortable firehouse. Interior accents and furnishings will hopefully temper that, but I am sure there will be a reluctance to "customize" the brand new station.

Though the old place will be missed, all of the inadequacies will not be. People will love the new house and become acclimated to their new environs. They might even get used to having administration right upstairs.

It's funny, way back before my time, administration was located in the existing "big house". They moved out a few years before I came on and moved into city hall. They have moved three times since, I know they are ecstatic about moving into the new house.

What was old has become new again.

Thanks for reading,
Schmoe

Celebrity Hoarding

2011-12-29T08:54:00.000-08:00

For those of us in the emergency services business, hoarding is another of those whacko things that we run into every once in a while. We, like everyone, find it incredible that anyone can live like that but, in it's basic form we know that it's a crazy freakin' world out there and that hoarding is just another crazy freakin' symptom of that world.

I normally don't get all that excited about hoarder stories or photos, but I found THESE PHOTOS to be remarkable.

I have seen worse hoarding, in fact much worse. What I find incredible is the scale of the hoarding in these pictures.

You see, the photos are actually those of a 1/6 scale model that the photographer, Carrie Becker built and photographed. She calls the series "Barbie Trashes Her Dream House" and describes it as a "more current view of Barbie's lifestyle."

Ms. Becker did a great job with this. The only way that it could have been made more realistic, is if she could have depicted Ken and G.I. Joe trying to advance a hand-line through "the maze", with smoke down to the floor, stuff falling on them, roaches crawling on them and cat turds sticking to their knees and gloves. But hey, I'm just being picky!

If you have a few seconds, click on the LINK and check out the photos. You'll get a kick out of them.

Thanks for reading,
schmoe

Bowl Season

2011-12-27T23:24:00.000-08:00

The Fire Explorer advisor called and let me know that they would be playing a football game last week. I told him that I would stop by and take a few pictures, as I always enjoy photographing the explorers.

The explorer program renews my faith in youth, it is refreshing to see such dedication and enthusiasm in the members of the post. Whether they all become firefighters is irrelevant, it's their focus and the things that they learn that will help them succeed in life, not their job title.

It was a beautiful December afternoon, the kind that is common here in SoCal, the kind that led my grandfather to move here from Indiana in 1956.

The odd thing about this game is that it was played in turn-outs. Even the Roanoke Rampage don't do that. It was a flag game as well, an effort to reduce the risk of debilitating injury.

Fifteen or sixteen kids showed up, more may have come later, I had to leave at the half.

As in most games of this type, it was all about offense. I think that the score was 212,345 to 212 ,352 at halftime.

It seemed that the smaller players did very well in this game. It was very hard for the larger kids to their hands of their flags.

It was good to see the explorers participating in this team building exercise. It gave them something to do while on Christmas break, they built a little camaraderie and, judging from the looks on their faces - they had a good time.

If the green turf and the blue skies in the photos are giving you an urge to move here, think about it some more. The job market is still in the tank and we have too many people here already. Should you ignore those factors and move here anyway, don't worry about fire protection. From the looks of these kids, you would be well protected for quite a few years.

Thanks for reading,
Schmoe

"What's at Willies?" - Innaugural Post

2011-12-26T08:45:00.000-08:00

Willie owns a auto repair shop. It was founded by his grandfather in 1934, who ran it until he passed in 1972. Willie's dad then ran the shop until he passed in 1991. Willie has been running it ever since. Willie and my brother in law have been friends for years, they went to high school together and still work together on various car related projects.

Willie's shop is located on the route that we used to get to and from the training tower when I was assigned at the healing place. One thing that I noticed when driving by is that there is ALWAYS something cool or interesting there. Whether it's a customer's hot-rod or classic car being worked on, or just someone stopping by, there was always a bitchin' car parked in the drive.

We actually stopped a few times on our way back from the tower. Though no one on the crew was really a "car guy", we all appreciated unique cars and the work that went into them. We didn't stay long, we needed to get back up the hill to protect it's denizens and Willie is all business when the shop is open. The last thing he needed was an engine company in his way, drooling on his customer's cars.

After giving it some thought, I approached Willie and asked him if he minded me stopping by once in a while to snap a few pictures of cars and posting them on here. Thankfully, he thought it a great idea. As a result, this is the first post of a semi-regular feature here on Report on Conditions, one that we will call What's at Willie's?

I stopped by late last week and was not disappointed. This beauty was parked in front of door #1, a 1958 Ford Fairlane.

I don't think that the Ford Fairlane enjoys the popularity of the various Chevrolet products of the same year, but this car is really well done. It is beautiful, and appears to be accurately restored to factory shipped condition.

I admired the grill, a tasteful compilation of chrome and form.

Someone has spent a great deal of time and resources on this car, the end result appears to have been worth it. Again, not being a car guy, I'm no expert but I found a high degree attention to detail on this project.

I enjoyed shooting this car, it reminded me of a late '50s Ford Galaxie that my grandparents had in the early '60s. I have to say that the Fairlane was a much better looking car.

If you want more info on Willie's shop, visit the Ed Martin's Garage web-page.

I hope you all had a wonderful and peaceful Christmas, we sure did at the Schmoe house. It was nice having relatives over at the crib, some that I hadn't seen for a while.

If you happen to watch the Saints - Falcons game tonight, please root for your team, but root for me in that neither team scores exactly 33 points tonight.

Thanks for reading,
Schmoe

Wherever you are...

2011-12-24T23:27:00.000-08:00

Should you get stuck working tonight or tomorrow - stay in the barn, keep your boots dry and keep the latex gloves in the box.

I wish you all a peaceful and joyous Christmas.

Schmoe

Missing - Final update

2011-12-22T22:57:00.000-08:00

Bakersfield Now is reporting that the two bodies found earlier today near Randsburg are those of the two off-roaders missing since early Sunday. The bodies of Chris Rice, 29 and Daniel Carbonaro, 27 were found in a deep ravine near Government peak area according to the post. The Razor ATV was found nearby.

It has not been determined how long the victims had been dead or the exact cause of death.

Deepest sympathies to all connected with the victims, this was not the outcome that everyone was hoping for.

Schmoe

Missing - Update

2011-12-22T17:45:00.000-08:00

Bakersfield Now, the web site for KBAK TVand KBFX TV (Bakersfield) is reporting that Kern County Sheriff Francis Moore has confirmed that the bodies of two men were "found not too far" from the Kern County Sheriff's Dept. command post. A vehicle was reported to have been found near the bodies according to the post. The sheriff stopped short of saying that the two bodies were those of the two men who have been missing since early Sunday morning. THE PAGE CAN BE FOUND HERE

Regardless of whether the two bodies were those of the missing off-roaders, deepest condolences to the families and friends of the deceased persons.

Despite it's beauty, the desert can be a hostile and unforgiving place. I'll post again when further details are available.

Schmoe

Missing

2011-12-22T11:45:00.000-08:00

I don't think LA media has jumped on this yet, but the Bakersfield press and the net are abuzz about two men who have been missing out in the Mojave desert since early Sunday morning. The two men, ages 29 and 27, left the the Cottage Inn motel, located in Randsburg CA, about 02:30 AM on Sunday morning to take a "night run" in a Polaris Razor XP900 ATV. The men have not been seen or heard from since.

Randsurg is a former mining town that now caters to local "desert rats" and to the off-road community. I have been there several times as it on the way to the Sierra Nevada mountains and is also near an area where I like to jeep. The area where the pair is believed to have headed is fairly diverse, with flat desert, rocky hills and steep craigs all being present. They were reportedly on their way to the Cuddeback dry lake bed, which is about a 15 mile ride from Randsburg. Numerous mine shafts are present within the search area, some marked - some not.

Other than Randsburg and nearby Johannesburg, there are no inhabited areas on their planned route. The region's isolation and stark beauty make it a popular area for off-roaders to ride, myself included. It is a bad place to be without supplies or transportation. It can be a stark environment, something that we sometimes forget when recreating in the area.

Temperatures have been in the low 30s at night, colder in the higher elevations. One would assume that since they left their motel at 2:30 AM, they were appropriately dressed for cold temperatures. It is unknown whether they had any food or water with them when they left their motel.

On additional factor is that it is possible that the missing men changed their mind and went to another area of the desert, expanding the area that needs to be searched. Had the riders traveled to the west rather than the east and headed up into the El Pasos, the terrain would be rather different than in the Cuddeback area. The El Pasos are a steep mountain range with numerous deep canyons and sharp drop-offs.

There is a perception by friends and family that the search and rescue response has not been adequate for the large area involved. Facebook and numerous off-road and desert bulletin boards have been calling for volunteers and logistical support to go to Randsburg and participate in the search. I have no idea whether the official search efforts have been appropriate, but I have some concerns whether a large group of people without command and control, search experience and logistical support will be more of a hindrance or a help in the search effort.

Random searches without coordination, a systematic pattern, documentation of areas searched and areas to be searched and a specific search plan are far less effective than those that are properly done. Hopefully, volunteer efforts will not interfere with the SAR resources already on scene. Contamination of tracks, the presence of people/vehicles that need to be checked out and the possibility of volunteers needing assistance are concerns.

As this situation occurs every so often, I hope that the local agencies involved have the response down to an efficient, effective one. People drive/fall into shafts every few years, people become lost and planes crash in the area all too frequently. Random violence is not unheard of, though most desert denizens just want to be left alone. The vast area involved, the hostility of the terrain and the remoteness of it all mandate a well planned and orderly response. I hope that is what is occurring.

I hope this has a positive outcome, though as more time passes that becomes less likely. It has been four full days since the two men vanished, that is a long time to be stranded in the open desert. My thoughts and prayers are with the two men, their friends and family, as well as the people searching, both professional and volunteers. Godspeed.

I will keep up on this as things progress.

Thanks for reading,
Schmoe

Norco Fire - Only 9 shopping days left!

2011-12-21T10:32:00.000-08:00

On January 1st, the City of Norco Fire dept. will be dissolved and cease to exist as an individual entity. After many years of discussion, debate and study, the City of Norco has opted to contract with the Riverside County Fire dept. to provide fire protection. The change will occur on January 1st.

As the Riverside County Fire Dept. contracts with the State of California to provide it's paid personnel, the firefighters staffing the city will be Cal-Fire employees. The existing firefighters in Norco will be absorbed into the Cal-Fire/Riverside County Fire system.

The reasons for the change are many. As usual, fiscal and political issues combined to make this happen. The city of Norco has faced fiscal woes for some time and has obtained significant concessions from the Norco Firefighters over the past few years. I don't know the details, but apparently they were not enough.

The city council voted 4-1 back in September to dissolve the fire department, based on a staff report claiming that contracting with the county would save the city approximately $1.4 million. That figure that is questioned by some as overly optimistic, as the city is still on the hook for some existing liabilities and any unexpected costs.

Norco makes the seventh agency that has been dissolved and absorbed into the Riverside County Fire Dept. since my career started in 1981. One city has broken away from the County and re-established their own dept. during that time. Eight departments remain, excluding tribal fire departments.

Of the departments whose patches are in the photo above, the following no longer exist and are now covered by the Riverside County Fire dept:

City of Banning
Rubidoux Fire Protection District
City of Perris
City of San Jacinto
City of Indio
Coachella Fire Protection District

The others are departments that no longer exist, but are in other local counties. I see a trend.

I am sure that if you talked to former members of the above agencies, they would say that their careers were improved after being absorbed into the county/Cal-Fire system. Although Cal-Fire works a 72 hour schedule, the isolation from local politics, security of working in a larger agency and the opportunity for overtime has overridden the longer work-week. I am sure that some did not make the transition well however.

While I believe that the citizens of Norco will receive a similar or maybe higher level of service with the change, I still think the loss of history and culture when an agency is dissolved is lamentable.

What I think is irrelevant, time marches on and things change. I wish my brothers in Norco well and remind them that though schedules and station assignments change, it still beats hot-mopping roofs or pouring mud in Palm Desert.

Thanks for reading,
Schmoe

P.S. As the county is buying Norco's two front-line engines, I know that it is only a matter of time before that white Salisbury in the top photo becomes all red. I'll miss seeing that too.

"House of Blues" - for now!

2011-12-18T19:15:00.000-08:00

The Corona Fire Dept. is located just to the west of us. They are a little smaller than us (seven stations, I think) with similar equipment and culture. One of things that I have always admired about them, is that their apparatus has presented well - their units just looked sharp. Aside from being well maintained, one of the factors regarding their apparatus appearance is that it was painted white with blue trim.

I'm probably going to take some heat for this, but I really like this paint scheme. The reason I am posting about this is that Corona is going to be phasing out the white and blue paint for the more traditional red. They are not going to repaint the fleet, but when an apparatus is replaced, the new unit will be red. It is my understanding that any unit getting a new paint job due to refurbishment will be done in red as well.

Frankly, I am bummed about it.

Image kyped from Corona Fire web-site

I really have no dog in this fight (actually, there is no fight either) it's just a matter of preference for me. With the exception of Corona, Norco (more on that later), Palm Springs and Idyllwild, all of the departments in my county have had red apparatus. I gave it up to those agencies for being a little different in their selection of color and for the appearance of their equipment.

I have no doubt that the crews over in Corona will continue to deliver high quality service and will continue to maintain their equipment in a manner that showcases it's beauty.

It's just they won't look as good while doing it.

*****

Thanks to the crew of E1 for letting me snap some photos while finishing up a run, it saved me a trip to one of the stations. I was in Corona taking care of some business and was trying to remember where some of their stations were when an ambulance drove past me, code three. I looked in my rear-view and saw Engine 1 pull into the parking lot that I had just left. A u-turn and 15 minutes later, I had the shots and was in the middle of a great conversation with the crew.

I recognized one of the crew, I think we were on the USAR team together. After chatting for a while, they went back to the barn and I headed over to the Norco FD to research a post that I will be doing next week I wish them well.

Thanks for reading,
Schmoe

Toneless

2011-12-15T08:51:00.000-08:00

For the first time in a bajillion years, my agency does not transmit station tones over the radio when dispatching a call. Personally, I think that the tones may come back at some point in the future, but I could be wrong about that. It wouldn't be the first time.

For quite some time, our agency has been switching over to the Westnet First-in Station Alerting System. In a nutshell, the Westnet system sends the alert information through the hard wire communication system rather than over the air. This allows more information to be sent, faster and without tying up air time. The increased amount of information is processed in a small computer located in the station and allows for a high degree of customization of the dispatch information. The voice information is still sent out over the air as well as over the hard wire system.

The transition process started with the construction of a new station, then was expanded when several stations were remodeled. When additional stations were built, they were equipped with the new systems, a few more remodels and a grant allowed all of the stations to be brought on-line.

The transition process was not without problems, integration between the new and the old did not always go smoothly. Some of the issues were hardware, some were personnel. As we control neither, resolution was not always easy. The completion of the install should eliminate most problems once the new procedures have been learned.

Firefighters love the First-in system as it allows them to customize how they receive the call. For example, each dorm room as an adjustable volume control and can be programmed to activate by unit rather than by station. As most of our stations have individual dorms rooms, each room will now be programmed to be alerted to sound when the individual unit is dispatched. The truckies will not be awakened when the squad is sent to pick up that pissy wino at three AM.

The system also includes a multi-colored lighting module that can be programmed to light a different color by unit. When the engine is sent, a red LED light segment illuminates, when the squad goes a blue segment lights up the truck gets green and the chief is signaled by yellow. The system does a bunch of other stuff which I won't go into here - it is a remarkable system, one that I enjoyed using.

Where I think there may be an issue, is when units are out in the field, monitoring a radio or HT. Most of us are programmed to recognize our station tones and therefore can tell the difference between an incident and routine traffic while focused on other tasks such as training or inspections. We could hear our station tone as well as the ambulance company's and the tones of neighboring stations. The tones were usually broadcast at a louder volume than the voice, which allowed us to easily filter routine traffic from dispatches.

Under the old system, a call was pre-alerted, the tones were sent and then the dispatch information was broadcast. It went something like this:

"Thirteen, AMR medical aid."

A pause of a few seconds.

"Beep beeeeeeeep, beep beeeeeeeeep." (these tones were significantly louder than the voice information)

Another pause, maybe a second or so, depending on what else the dispatcher had going.

"Attention engine 13, AMR - 2455 Corrigan way, 2-4-5-5 Corrigan way with a cross street of Brubaker lane. This will be at Dingleberry's market, a medical aid for a fall victim. Map page 78 D-4"

Under the new broadcast procedure, the pre-alert and tones were replaced by three short beeps, followed by the voice dispatch:

"Beep beep beep."

"Attention engine 13, AMR - 2455 Corrigan way, 2-4-5-5 Corrigan way with a cross street of Brubaker lane. This will be at Dingleberry's market, a medical aid for a fall victim. Map page 78 D-4"

Obviously, the incident will get out much faster and the quality of the dispatch information that gets into the station will be much improved. In the field, who knows?

I think that losing the tones over the radio will cause a few calls to be missed as the three short beeps are generic, not station specific and will get lost in the clutter of radio traffic. That alone will not cause the tones to be brought back, another factor will likely be more instrumental in their return.

It will be far more difficult for the day chiefs to differentiate fire calls from the more routine medical calls. The string of tones for multiple station responses are no longer available, all calls sound the same - whether for a lock-out or for a structure fire. The chiefs are likely to miss a few calls , especially when they are engrossed in their work. If this becomes a big enough issue, the old station tones will be broadcast along with the new First-In system.

I loved the First-In alerting system, but I relied upon the tones when in the field. It no longer matters to me, but others relied upon the tones as well. It will be interesting to see if they will be missed enough to return them to the dispatch process.

Only time will tell.

Thanks for reading,
Schmoe

Urban Camping

2011-12-09T23:32:00.000-08:00

I almost felt guilty, as I told Wines what I was up to.

"Well Willie, I'm just finishing setting up camp, looking out over the lake and fixing to have a cold brew" I said.

He asked if it was 80 degrees and whether we were wearing short sleeves. It was and we were. The day couldn't have been more perfect. I felt kinda bad, as I know it only got up into the upper 40s today in the 'noke and it looks like the mid '20s for tonight. Somehow, I don't think there was a lot of water skiing going on today in central Virginia.

The evening only got better.

I'm guessing Willie only got colder!

All of these photos were taken off the back end of our camping trailer, which is now parked at Frank Bonelli Regional Park. The park is located only 45 minutes or so from our house, making it an easy week end get away. We are here with two other couples and are enjoying the perfect weather.

We usually head to the desert this time of year, but as our friends wanted to stay close to home this spot was chosen instead. I must say that I was pleasantly surprised as the campground is nice and the views excellent. Although we won't be doing any jeeping, shooting or exploring, there will be plenty of relaxing, socializing and drinking. Not a bad weekend at all. I hope yours is as fun as mine is shaping up to be.

Thanks for reading,
Schmoe

Can't

2011-12-08T09:23:00.000-08:00

As many of you have heard, there was firefighter fatality in Worcester, MA this morning. It appears that John Davies, a 17 year veteran of the Worcester FD was killed and his partner, identified as firefighter Carroll was injured when a portion of a structure collapsed on them as they were performing a search for victims at a structure fire.

As usual, Dave Statter over at Statter911 is on it with the details. Updates, including fireground audio, can be found HERE. I started to listen but just can't get through it.

Our thoughts and prayers are with both men, their families, friends and the Worcester FD.

Stay safe.

Schmoe

Obviously...

2011-12-07T23:04:00.000-08:00

...Santa can't read.

Otherwise, he would have heeded the "Warning - all occupants of this vehicle must be seated and wearing seatbelts before moving the vehicle" label.

Perhaps Santa feels that riding the running board presents far less risk than riding in an open cab sleigh at 12,000 ft, with no restraining system. Who am I to argue?

It's that time of year, with toy drives, Santa In The Hood and numerous other PR type events. This year, I don't have to deal with any of that stuff, other than showing up and snapping the occasional photo.

I just hope Santa can drive!

Thanks for reading,
Schmoe

Rumors

2011-12-07T10:28:00.000-08:00

I like hearing rumors as much as the next gossip monger, though I understand that rumors are just that - rumors and that though there may be some truth in most rumors, the amount of it may be very small and thus most should not be relied upon to be of much use.

The fire service has always been a breeding ground for rumors, despite all sorts of training, warnings and admonishments. Like most other human shortcomings, rumors are not controlled by edict, but by self control and moral standards. Like most humans, we fail miserably at controlling them.

While visiting with some firefighters at one of our stations recently, the topic of conversation shifted to one of our more infamous members, one that is known by everybody on the job. The actions of this particular member are widely known and thus widely discussed. The course of this conversation therefore was predictable - almost pre-ordained.

Though I don't always agree with this particular member, we are on some level, friends. I speak with him semi-regularly and have some knowledge of how he thinks and what makes him tick. Several weeks ago, we had a conversation regarding an incident that he had responded to and his actions while there. He did not discuss the gory details of the call with me, but gave me enough information to get the gist of the call and of the circumstances leading up to it. As I had seen him several hours before the incident, I knew of his actions during the day and of the events leading up to it.

During my visit with the firefighters and the conversation regarding our infamous member, the above mentioned incident came to light as did some rumors about it. I initially did not make it known that I had discussed that same incident with the main participant, but listened to the rumors and the justifications behind them. Frankly, I found it amusing as I digested the information. I found the bridges between fact, supposition, speculation and fabrication to be interesting, almost fascinating. I also learned a few things, filling in some informational gaps of my own - leftovers from my initial conversation with my friend.

Understanding that there are those who have an axe to grind with my infamous brother, makes it easier to understand the malicious nature of some of the components of the rumor. It is also easy to understand how a lack of information made it easy for others who were there to speculate on his actions. His high profile and unorthodox decision making process made it easy for the rest of the organization to put all of the components together and begin spreading rumors.

At some point, I advised my fellow rumor mongers that I had discussed the incident with the participant and had ran into him a few hours before the event. My disclosure and knowledge of the incident pretty much filled in the informational gaps held by the firefighters and dispelled the more derogatory elements of the rumors. It also verified some of the facts regarding the incident, ones that actually shed some positive light on my friend's actions.

I could see the lights come on in the face of one of the firefighters, a captain who has been in the business almost as long as I have. It was almost as if he didn't want to believe the negative components of the rumors, but had been sucked in by the insipid nature of them and by the infamous reputation of the subject. When the gaps were filled and the facts known, his expression was one that appeared to be of relief. Hopefully, he will dispel the the rumors when they come up again, as they most surely will.

Time will tell on that. It will also be interesting to see if my revelations of the matter will be viewed as enlightening and as a beacon for the truth, or as an alibi for a friend and the ramblings of a co-conspirator.

Time will tell on that as well.

Thanks for reading,
Schmoe

Windfall

2011-12-05T19:38:00.000-08:00

I could tell it was a check by the envelope. I was glad to see it, as I have been fussing with the people that control the money I will be receiving for the rest of my life.

The last two conversations that I had with the owers of money didn't end well and profanity may have been involved. You see, after ninety days and numerous one hour and twenty minute waits on the phone, I expect a better answer than "I don't have an answer for you Mr. Schmoe, I don't know when you will start receiving a check." I digress.

I tore open the long awaited envelope and found that it did contain a check, however it was not the one that I had been hoping for. In fact it was a horrible disappointment.

Click to enlarge

For those of you lacking the energy or interest to click and enlarge, the check is in the amount of fourteen cents. I believe that this is the smallest check that I have ever received, except maybe for that residual check that I received for that "Mr. T and Tina" episode that I appeared in when I was a kid.

According to the letter that accompanied the check, I was part of a class action suit against E-Bay, one that I (we) won! The fourteen cents are the spoils of that battle. I recall getting a postcard several years ago, one that announced I was eligible to wage war with the mighty E-Bay and that I only had to do nothing and I would be a member of the huge avenging army, litigating it's way to moral victory over corporate greed and dishonesty.

As I am very good at doing nothing, I joined the battle and thus, victory is mine. While I still have not received the large check that I am expecting, my disappointment in this one has waned as I realize that something is better than nothing and that little guys like me can help grease-ball attorneys eke out a living suing companies like E-Bay.

Watch out Zuckerberg, don't piss me off or you'll be next!

Did I cash it? Damn right I cashed it! I figure that unclaimed awards probably end up in the slime-ball attorney's pocket. Fourteen cents may not seem like much, but if a million people don't cash their fourteen cent check , well that adds up to a hundred and forty grand. I claimed my fourteen cents thank you very damn much, better me than the attorney.

Who says that the good guy always loses!

Thanks for reading,

A wealthy Schmoe

Cops...

2011-12-03T23:25:00.000-08:00

...it's whats for dinner.

Actually, I'm pretty sure that the dog eats a lamb and rice based kibble. I have no idea what the officers eat. The above photos were part of a group that I shot of a K-9 demonstration. I have to be honest, this was a little different for me, I am used to shooting pictures of wiener dogs and search dogs, both of which are very friendly and somewhat cuddly.

I don't know if this patrol K-9 has a friendly or cuddly streak or not, but I can tell you that when he is working, he is neither. He is simply bad-ass. I don't recall his name, but from what I gathered he is considered to be one of the more intense members of the team. Even though he was on a leash, I am very grateful that his attention was focused on the agitator rather than on me. As I was working fairly close to the agitator, I noticed the dog glance at me a few times, but as I posed no threat to him, he stayed on the agitator.

The demonstration was very well done, with displays performed by narcotics detection dogs, patrol dogs as well as both a live victim disaster search dog and a human remains search dog. All of the dogs and handlers performed very well and showed the amount of work that is required to get them certified for their respective functions.

As I weed through the 400+ images from the event, I will post a few more. As a dog lover, I like to capture the working dogs doing what they do best. It makes me appreciate the oxygen-wasters that live in my house even more even though I know that they are not living up to their potential.

Thanks for reading,
Schmoe

Place

2011-11-27T12:32:00.000-08:00

It is a peaceful place, this small canyon. It is a place where few went, as there was no need to go there. Perhaps an occasional hunter wandered up it, looking for quail or chukkar. Maybe the occasional off-roader rode the bottom, hoping that the canyon went somewhere. Now, the floor is covered with footprints, those of friends and family making the pilgrimage to this quiet place.

The canyon's location keeps out the noise from the highway, located only a mile away. The sun illuminates the rocks and sand of the canyon, providing an earthen hued contrast to the vivid blue of the desert sky.

The serenity of it masks the carnage that occurred there. The momentary physical carnage and the lingering emotional one - the one that causes people to go there.

Memorials like this are not uncommon, they are found all over town. The town memorials do not have the serenity and solitude that this one does. When people visit them, they do so under the gaze of passers-by. That will not happen here. Visitors will have a place to remember, reflect and to heal and will be allowed to do so in privacy.

I have found memorials similar to these out here in the Mojave. I have wondered what the story was, how these monuments to loved-ones lost came to be, out here in the middle of nowhere. I didn't find this one, I visited it. I know the story of it and frankly, I wish I didn't.

I don't know for certain if I will visit this place again, though as I am in the area every so often, it is likely. Hopefully, whoever controls the property will allow the monument to remain as a memorial to those that were taken from us far too early.

Even if the monument is removed, the occasional set of footprints will be impressed in the canyon floor, serving in it's place.

Thanks for reading,
Schmoe

Tradition

2011-11-26T00:25:00.000-08:00

It's a tradition here in the Land of the Dirt People. Not mine, tonight was the first time that I have attended other than in an on-duty official capacity. I don't think this will become our tradition either. Cool as it is, the crowds are a little more than I like to deal with.

It's called the Festival of Lights Switch On Ceremony and it's been a tradition for the past 19 years. A local hotel is adorned with 1.3 million lights for the holiday season. They start on the project several months in advance and they switch on the lights for the first time on the Friday after thanksgiving.

You know it's a big deal when you see three news vans from the L.A. stations set up on the periphery, one doing a live remote.

Another clue is the crowds. Last year's was estimated at over a quarter of a million people, I am sure that there was at least that many there tonight.

The crowd completely surrounded the hotel, a large one that takes up an entire block. A stage was set that was populated by dignitaries and the guy that owns the hotel, The mayor and the hotel owner spoke for a few minutes. I didn't mind listening to the hotel owner, as he is paying for most of this event, he should get to speak.

Thankfully, both the mayor and the owner were short-winded so after a short while the switch was thrown.

The result was immediate and impressive. Not only did the lights come on, but a fireworks display was initiated as well.

The lights are somewhat overpowered by the fireworks, but that is OK. The lights will be on until January 8th, the fireworks are just for tonight.

After the fireworks, we attempted to walk around the block. We made it most of the way, but the pedestrian mall was just too crowded to get through, so we by-passed that side. We did manage to see most of the sights though.

It was truly a beautiful sight, I am told the hotel books up many months in advance for this event. One of our BC's booked a room for this, I am sure he enjoyed the view.

I don't know what the hotel spends on this display, I'm sure it isn't cheap. Regardless, I am grateful for their efforts as the results are spectacular.

These photos don't do it justice. If you like Christmas lights and are ever in the Land of the Dirt People during the Christmas season, stop by the Mission Inn hotel, have a drink, then walk the block. You won't be disappointed.

Thanks for reading,

Schmoe

Happy Day

2011-11-24T09:41:00.000-08:00

Happy day, turkeys!

Whether you are camped out at Best Buy,

getting ready to stand in line at Toys R Us,

stuck at work,

or slaving away in the kitchen, getting ready for all of the hungry Schmoes, have a great Thanksgiving!

Thanks for reading,
a grateful Schmoe

Ground School

2011-11-23T11:12:00.000-08:00

First, let me say that I was impressed with the answers that I received regarding the photo in my last post. The responses that I received from firefighters were correct, and the ones that I received from non-fire service readers were well thought out and was based on observation. Well done!

The photo was of the "ground school" portion of a ladder bail class. As the ladder bail requires following a precise procedure to perform safely, students are required to demonstrate proficiency on the ground before being allowed to perform it above ground. Serious injuries have occurred during training on this evolution, showing a need for safety guidelines and training procedures for it.

The ladder bail (low profile above ground ladder escape) has been widely taught in one form or another since the late 80s. It is an evolution that requires very precise movements, as the consequences of an error are dire.

The objective is to rapidly egress an upper floor window, while keeping as low as possible in the window frame. It is not to be performed for fun, but should only be used when the flames are licking at your ass and you have no control of the situation. They call it a bail-out for a reason.

The images and captions below document a recent "train the trainer" session, covering the ladder bail procedure and the set-up for teaching the class. The "students" are peer instructors, who assist the training division in training crews on their shifts. As at least 12 multi-company drills covering this evolution will be performed, it is important that everyone is getting the same material. Hence this session.

Step 1: Find the window sill.

Step 2: Find the beams.

Step 3: Slide the beams.

Step 4: Hook rung #2 and make a fist.

Step 5: Slide beam with other hand and find 4th rung.

Step 6: Slide rung to the opposite beam.

Step 7: Feet together, kick your own ass and swing out.

Step 8: Find rails with your feet and slide down.

Obviously, there are other bits of important information that need to be instructed, but you get the idea. Another tool for firefighters to put in the box, just in case.

If you have never taken a safety/survival course teaching this evolution, I urge you to do so. Just make sure that the instructor is qualified to teach this, the consequences of failure are great.

Thanks for reading and have a happy Thanksgiving.

Schmoe

Anybody Wanna Take a Guess...

2011-11-21T20:03:00.000-08:00

...at what these guys are doing?

I'll give you a few hints:

It does not involve exercise, stretching or anything like that.
It is a critical part of an injury prevention program.
Some of you may have participated in something similar, but were taught in a different fashion.

For what it's worth, I have never done this, but I recognize the need for this action and think it's pretty clever.

Comment if you think you know what they are up to. Sorry, I don't have any prizes this time.

Thanks for reading,
Schmoe

Opportunity Rings

2011-11-18T20:22:00.000-08:00

While shooting pictures at the PLT testing event, my phone rang. It was a guy that I used to work with, one that was assigned to my station, on the other shift. Despite being busy, I picked up.

"Hey Schmoe, do you remember that guy from LAFD, the one from the event that you shot for me? Well, he is a captain on a fire boat and he has invited me to come in for a tour. Are you in?"

He didn't have to ask twice. "Heck yeah" I replied. "Let me know when."

Well, yesterday was the day. Boy am I glad I picked up the phone. Working in the desert precludes us from having a harbor, much less a fire boat.

The front of the station looks pretty much like any other, with an engine inside, pointed to the street. The inside appeared to be a normal house as well, similar to dozens that I have been in over the years. It was when we got to the rear of the station that the difference was apparent.

I believe that a large portion of the population has some instinctual fascination with the sea. Whether it is an urge to fish, an urge to sail or an urge to swim, I think those urges are somehow linked to our past connection with the sea and our dependence on it. I am one of those people who enjoys being on the water, even though I don't own a boat. I knew the second I saw LAFD boat #4 that I was going to enjoy this tour.

The harbor in Los Angeles is kind of a looped affair, with two separate ports, one belonging to the city of Los Angeles and the other to the city of Long Beach. They share port protection duties, with each handling the small stuff within their boundaries and both responding to the major stuff.

The first stop on our tour was another fire boat station, the one housing Boat #2. Boat #2 is the newest boat in LAFD's fleet, but the cool thing is that old boat #2 is sitting dry, next to the station. There is hope that a museum can be created out of it.

Due to the history involved, I hope that they are successful. The U.S.S. Iowa, a WWII era battleship will be coming to Los Angeles and will be converted to a museum. It is going to be docked next to the station where old boat #2 is positioned, they might make a good historical pairing.

Fire boat #2, as is boat #4 are staffed with five personnel. A pilot guides the boat, two engineers operate the engines, pumps and other machinery, a mate and the captain. Boat #2 is the newest of the LAFD fleet and bears a remarkable resemblance to several tugboats based in the area.

The tour continued and we headed toward the entrance to the harbor. A tanker, laden with oil or some petroleum product was headed into the harbor. A tug was headed out to meet it.

In the port of Los Angeles, as well as in Long Beach, container ships and tankers make up most of the marine traffic.

In the port of Los Angeles, every tanker must be inspected by the Fire Department before it can be unloaded. It is the crews of fire boat #4 and #2 who perform this function.

The tanker inspection requirement is a result of the Sansinena disaster, an oil tanker explosion that occurred in the port of Los Angeles in 1976.

While on the Long Beach side of the harbor, we came across a Long Beach fire boat as the crew was performing some duties aboard the craft.

We exchanged pleasantries and continued on our way.

Obviously, the operation of a fire boat requires a vast nautical and mechanical knowledge base as well as firefighting skills. I was impressed with the way the crew handled the boat, though the large wharf fire I was hoping for didn't materialize while I was there so I couldn't see them in action.

Boats are extremely maintenance intensive, fire boats even more so as they are complex and must be ready to go at all times. This vessel was in immaculate condition, it is obvious that they spend vast amounts of time cleaning and maintaining it. The cleanliness extended to all areas of the boat.

After returning to quarters, we spotted boat #3 backing into to a slip next to boat #4's quarters. LAFD operates three of these small boats and although they can pump water, they are mainly used for dive and rescue operations. Apparently, the guys on the big boats don't consider the small boats fire boats, but as far as I'm concerned, if it's red and can move water, it's a fire boat.

After the tour, we were invited to lunch with the crews. We dined on swordfish, purchased from the dock where the fishing boats unload their catches. Another bonus of working in the harbor!

This was an awesome trip, many thanks to the crews of sta. #49 and the boats. You guys rock!

Thanks to you for reading,

Schmoe

Opportunity Texts

2011-11-16T16:59:00.000-08:00

I heard my phone ding, the sound filtering through the haze of an early dawn slumber. As overnight requests for photos will be either be e-mails or phone calls, I opted not to look at the message until after getting up an hour or so later.

After arising, scratching and relieving myself, I staggered over to my dresser and checked my phone. The text was from America's Fire Captain - Willie Wines. The message was simple, "call me when u get up".

Coffee waits for no one in my house, so after firing up the Keurig and brewing some joe, I gave Willie a buzz. Surprisingly, he picked up. We usually play phone tag for several days before finally speaking with each other. He and Rhett "The Fire Critic" Fleitz were on the road, starting an epic road trip that would end up in Ohio.

Willie wanted to give me a heads up on a photo opportunity that was occurring that day, one that was not too far from the Schmoe crib. I had read about the event on the day prior while surfing The Fire Critic, and had thought about going. The call from Willie and the contact info of one of the principals sealed the deal, so I loaded the camera into El Cheepo Jeepo and hit the freeway.

The event was an objective test of photo-luminescent technology (PLT) as applied to the fire service. PLT is the modern version of "Glow In The Dark" technology, but is GREATLY improved. PLT has been playing an increasing role in emergency egress/exiting for a while and is exploding into fire service usage. The goal of the testing was to provide data on the amount of time required to perform certain tasks that are often performed on the fireground. One data set would be without the benefit of PLT, another would be with the benefit of PLT. The products are being developed by a company called GlowZone Inc. and distributed by MN8-Foxfire. Other products are still in development.

Spatial disorientation is the bane of anyone who works in a visibly challenged environment, firefighters are not exempt. Visual references to other team members helps combat this issue. Accountability and the ability to visually track other team members are tactical goals that we strive to attain. PLT is a tool that can help with all of these issues and are reasons that these products are taking off.

This isn't your daddy's PLT!

The testing was administered by Dave Hudson, a training captain with the Riverside County Fire Dept./Cal-Fire. You can READ THE DETAILS HERE, but the scenarios included a fire attack with victim rescue and a firefighter down rescue. All of the evolutions were live fire, using class A combustibles.

The testing occurred at the North-Net training facility in Anaheim, CA.

It was a big deal, with a significant amount of effort spent getting the testing performed and documented properly.

Infra-red camera were placed at strategic locations in the tower.

As were digital video cameras. For you fellow camera geeks, these were Canon 5D MkIIs. I hope they were rentals, they took some heat.

All of the data was recorded and checked to make sure it was accurate. This spot was where the data was amassed and processed.

The first half of the day consisted of performing the designated tasks without the assistance of PLT equpped gear, turnouts or egress routes.

As the egress PLT aids were installed the day before, they had to be covered before the first phase of the testing.

I was happy and surprised to see some firefighters from my agency assisting with the testing. They work for a company that provides training to fire departments throughout the state and were hired to perform the evolutions in the testing process.

In the photo below, the rescuers are exiting the building, after rescuing a victim from a contents fire on the fourth floor.

The firefighter down evolution used a "real" victim, a firefighter from Riverside County/Cal-Fire.

Even though I know the image is that of an exercise, I find the image below disturbing.

It came out a little too "real" for my taste. Call me a sissy if you want to.

The series of "before" evolutions were performed and the times recorded. More subjective material such as the rescuers impressions were recorded as well.

Someone, I don't know who (thanks, to whoever it was) catered lunch. Like the rest of the day's events, it was well done.

The afternoon session consisted of the same evolutions as the morning sessions, except that equipment and means of egress were equipped with PLT accessories.

One of the things that I like about this technology is that it has a tremendous number of uses and therefore can be applied to the purchaser's needs as budgets and other constraints allow. Some agencies might opt to purchase PLT tape and apply it to their tools and equipment. Some might purchase PLT epoxy coatings and apply it to equipment and others might have the resources to purchase equipment with PLT built in. Flexibility is king when it comes to this technology.

PLT impregnated PPE trim is being developed as I write this.The very first sets of PLT trimmed turn-outs were un-boxed and used during this testing session.

These are FDNY turn-outs with PLT trim. I envision a future where fire departments will be able to order turn-outs to their existing specs and opt for PLT trim.

Other products in use are slip-on air bottle covers, helmet bands and adhesive decals.

As I didn't have full structural PPE, my photos were limited to the stairwell on the first and second levels and to some demonstrations that were performed for the media. The results were the same, this stuff emits light where no other light exists!

I followed Billy up the stairs into the darkness. His PPE, SCBA bottle, helmet and tool are all illuminated.

In this shot, a firefighter is laying on the floor on the third story. He is clearly visible and it would be easy to determine his orientation to facilitate rescue.

The rescue is in progress and the fallen firefighter is being carried down the stairs. The rescuer in the front is equipped with a PLT helmet band and his tool is taped with PLT tape. Though not quite as effective as PLT trimmed PPE, it still does a remarkable job.

I must say that I was impressed with this product and I like the direction that product development is going. I know some people who are field testing the products and they like what they are seeing.

If you want more information on MN8-Foxfire products, IT CAN BE FOUND HERE. If you wish to shop for their products, They can be purchased at FireStore.com.

This was a long post, fortunately most of it was in photos. Thanks to Wines for hooking me up with this and thanks to Zach over at MN8-Foxfire for letting me shoot the event. I had a blast.

Thanks to you for reading,

Schmoe

I don't know...

2011-11-14T18:07:00.000-08:00

... if it's true or not, but this is one effing powerful video.

I wish I knew more about this, I have a feeling that we will be learning more about it in the coming days. If it is a true story, that is a remarkable young lady. If it's not true there is a remarkable filmmaker behind it, one who knows how to use human emotion as a communication medium. Either way, it is worth a watch.

Most of the suicide calls that I went on were either cries for help or people needing attention. The ones that were serious about it usually succeeded, they used methodology that almost ensured success. The carnage left behind often was even more tragic than the act itself..

Thnks for reading,
Schmoe

Occupy Riverside Takes a Road Trip

2011-11-12T23:18:00.000-08:00

Apparently, while I was tooling around the desert last week, the Riverside Police Dept. broke up the encampment of the Occupy Riverside protest. According to the local rag, eleven people were arrested for resisting RPD as they dismantled the encampment. Even though I wasn't there, the event was pretty well documented and charges of police brutality were pretty much discounted by the media. The Occupy Riverside participants didn't share the same view.

Frankly, I am kind of sorry I missed it. Nothing makes for exiting photography like newsworthy discord. Though I really don't wish discord on anybody, if it's going to happen in a public venue, I don't mind shooting it. So when I read in the paper that the Occupy Riverside group was going to march to RPD headquarters, I decided to cancel my luncheon plans with Michelle Obama and document the exercise.

I had visited the Occupy Riverside encampment before and had POSTED ABOUT IT HERE. In a nutshell, the vast majority of occupiers and I are on opposite ends of the political spectrum on most issues, though we do have share common ground on a few. The protest was peaceful while I was there, yet the people were doing a good job getting their message out. As a firm believer in the constitution and the bill of rights, I support their right to protest, as long as it;s peaceful and doesn't get too far out of line.

This time, I was curious too see what, if any, changes in the group dynamic were and see how RPD was going to handle the event.

The Crowd seemed a little younger this time and maybe a little more "counter culture" in nature.

Regardless of the make-up of the protesters, there was little doubt as to what they were upset about.

After a rally at the Occupy Riverside site, the protesters lined up and took their protest on the road.

The route took the protesters past a branch of the Bank of America and some choice words were offered regarding the immoral nature of the organization.

This is one area where I agree with the protesters, I hate B of A too.

Note the handwritten message on the shirt of the woman in the left of the photo below. I thought the message rather 60's-ish in nature and it's presentation rather amateur.

Another area where I agree with the occupiers. I like veterans, feel like we under-fund veterans programs and feel that we leave many out to dry upon their return from doing our bidding.

The first "stop" on this road trip was at the county jail. Some of last weeks arrestees felt that they were mistreated during their brief stay there. The gentleman with the bullhorn addressed the crowd and did a good job rallying the marchers.

After a brief stop at the jail, the march went back down the street to Riverside Police Dept. Headquarters. There, the march leadership railed at the building from below the steps.

While at RPD, a small group aired their grievances about RPD's and RSO's actions during the arrests last week. I have to be honest - though I am sure that the arrests were less than pleasant, all of the complaints that I heard sounded like they were in line with normal procedures. Getting popped is just not a pleasant experience, whether for civil disobedience or some other offense. I think the protesters are barking up the wrong tree on this one.

There is that Guy Fawkes mask guy again. Actually, there were several people in attendance who were sporting that mask. I am told that the Guy Fawkes mask has become the unofficial mask of the occupy movement.

This guy is carrying fliers and photos of Kelly Thomas, a homeless schizophrenic who was beaten to death by Fullerton Ca. P.D. officers. Several officers were arrested as a result of this beating death, frankly - rightly so.

After a while, the rally was over and the march headed back to the occupy Riverside location. On the way. they marched by this gazebo/canopy, which is located to the rear of the police station.

The protesters found this ironic as canopies were apparently part of the issue when the occupy Riverside encampment was dismantled. It was commented on quite thoroughly.

Throughout the entire process, RPD chose not to confront the protesters -there was no need to. RPD stayed out of sight, though I did see an RSO un-marked car watching the event from across the street. The metro team members who were in these cars were in the back lot when the protesters detoured to see the canopy. I think it caught the marchers by surprise, I am not sure about the officers.

Everybody behaved themselves and the protesters completed their road trip without further incident.

To sum this up, I think that the composition and attitude of the occupy Riverside protest has changed a bit. It appears that some of the more mainstream folks are no longer with this group, and that there are more hard core social activists within it.

All of that is immaterial. As long as the protests remain peaceful, don't negatively impact too many people or harm other peoples property or the environment, the occupiers should be allowed to express their opinion.
It will be interesting to see how this all pans out, especially if interest from mainstream society wanes. Will the occupy movement wane as well, or will the level of protest and disobedience be ramped up to renew media attention?

Thanks for reading,
Schmoe

Words.

2011-11-11T20:13:00.000-08:00

Thanks. It's all I got. Thanks to all of you, who for whatever reason, opted to serve our country. Whether you were drafted or volunteered, your efforts are appreciated. Though we will never know exactly what some of you went through, we know your sacrifices have been many and in some cases extreme. Again, thanks.

For those of you who desire more insight on what it means to be a veteran, please visit With a Bible In My Ruck.. J.P. has posted some thoughts on being a veteran, I found it to be an incredible post.

Thanks for reading,
Schmoe

Back

2011-11-08T15:07:00.000-08:00

We got back from our trip to the El Paso range and Last Chance Canyon. Though the weather was less than ideal, we had a great time. This was my second trip through the area and I still haven't explored most of it, I think we'll go back in the spring.

There were supposed to be five of us going, but we lost one due to illness. The four remaining set out Friday and headed north. It rained cats and dogs most of the way there, but stopped as we neared Red Rock Canyon.

As this was sort of "my trip", I led. Talk about the blind leading the blind! We never really got lost, though there were a few times that weren't sure exactly where we were. Part of the problem was there weren't any accurate maps available to us. That is part of the fun though!

Through most the first day, it remained cloudy and cold. I'm glad I put the top on El Cheepo Jeepo before we left.

Most of the cloud cover had blown through by sunset, removing the insulating blanket from the desert mountain range. It was well below 50 by supper time and dropping teadily. Nothing a camp-fire and a little Crown Royale couldn't resolve.

Day two broke clear, sunny and cool. We spent much of the day visiting the same places that I did last year, as the rest of my party had never been to the area.

While at Burro Schmidt's Tunnel, two of our party opted not to go inside, allowing Eric and myself to go all of the way through it (2100 ft) without having to worry about our stuff.

This is the view off of the west end, well worth the walk through the dark.

The desert, the lure of which attracts few, but attracts strongly. A trail through it is sure to be less traveled, though often loved more.

Day three broke with a little rain which blew through quickly and was done by breakfast time. Eric had opted not to set up his tent and had slept under the stars. The spattering of rain on his face quickly roused him and he threw his bedding in his jeep. I heard him get up and joined him, building the fire and watching the leaden sky lighten and the clouds blow to the east. Two hours later and the above view was ours.

A great trip, one I hope to repeat.

Thanks for reading,

A rejuvenated Schmoe

Trouble for Some and I'm Out

2011-11-03T22:16:00.000-07:00

Wonder why these guys are standing up and everybody else is on their faces?

The guys standing are the guys in trouble, the rest of the group are taking the beating for them. I have no knowledge of the offenses, though I am quite sure they were minor. Sometimes a little peer pressure works wonders, especially for minor stuff and situations where other corrective measures have been unsuccessful.

This is a tight group of kids, most are pretty squared away. They were a delight to have around the station for the most part, I still enjoy dropping by the tower and shooting pictures on drill night. Quite a few of these kids have ended up working for one department or another, the program is a good place to start.

****
I just finished packing El Cheepo Jeepo, tomorrow I am heading out to the desert with some friends for some jeeping, camping and exploring. We are going to the El Paso mountains and Last Chance Canyon. I went there last year with another friend and had a great time, though I froze my ass off at night.

This year, I will be going with a friend that I have never camped with, one that I haven't camped with for twenty years or so and a couple of guys I have only met once or twice. Oh yeah, and my brother in law, whom I have camped with plenty of times.

As we are going for three days, we should be able to see some stuff that I missed last year. I added some gear, so the cold temperatures shouldn't be a problem. We shall see.

You can read about last year's trip HERE and HERE. I am taking my camera, even though the weather is supposed to be kind of crappy. I hope to get some decent pictures, it is a very interesting location.

As we will be miles from internet access, it will be Monday before I post again. I hope you all have a great weekend.

Thanks for reading,
Schmoe

It's That Time of Year

2011-11-02T00:11:00.000-07:00

It was Halloween yesterday, meaning it's the season for the annual Respiratory protection multi-company drill. I caught B-shift at the tower yesterday, the were kind enough to let me take a few pictures.

Don.

Run.

Climb.

Descend.

Squeeze

Run.

Drag.

Pull.

Run.

Climb.

Descend.

Run.

Crawl.

Run.

Recover.

Suck that bottle empty and record the time.

I gotta be honest, I don't miss this drill one bit. Guys in their 20s love it. People in their 30s are okay with it. 40+ firefighters are annoyed by it and guys over 50 hate it. The one guy left on the job who is in his 60's probably loves it, he is not normal.

This drill is part of our mandated respiratory protection program, which also includes class time and a physical. It also shows who the animals are.

I must say, it is a lot more fun shooting it than it is to participate in it.

Thanks for reading,
Schmoe

Surprise! Surprise!

2011-10-30T23:12:00.000-07:00

I remember this building as a kid, my mom had a friend that lived in an apartment behind it. We used to visit her and I remember seeing it when we parked the car. I worked in the neighborhood for years, responded to a call or two there and maybe even performed an inspection there. I've driven by it a bajillion times and even though I always tried to keep track of what the often modified buildings in my district actually were, this caught me by surprise.

After talking with several former co-workers, I was not the only one.The brick and girder exterior was added in 1961, covering the original Churrigueresque exterior. The remodel was so complete and durable and occurred before most of us could talk, so no one recalled the pre-remodel building. In the photo above, part of the facade has been removed from the Bravo side of the building.

The above photo shows the entire masonry portion of the faced having been removed. It is my understanding that the girders will be removed as well and that much of the building's missing ornamentation will be recreated and placed on the building.

The good news for the crews and for the public that will visit the building, is that it will now be brought up to the current fire code, including fire sprinklers and a modern alarm system.

This is the building in it's past glory. Ornate for sure, though I am not sure if the Churrigueresque influence works on it.

Regardless, I was sure surprised to see the exo-skeleton removed and it's original shell evolve. Kinda embarrassed that I let this one get by.

Thanks for reading,
Schmoe

Viral

2011-10-28T21:46:00.000-07:00

4.1 million hits,7 days. That is an impressive display of the power of the web. I wish I could say it was the latest post of "Report on Conditions" but it wouldn't be the truth.

The video posted below has been featured on network TV, been featured in the LA Times and numerous other newspapers and has achieved enough attention on facebook that The Saint I Am Married To heard about it.

As a result, we decided to check it out. Of course, I drug the camera along.

We really didn't know what to expect. Our first clue that this was a big deal was the traffic. Our second clue was when people were letting cars park in their driveway for five bucks and selling pizza for one dollar a slice.

Even with the clues we were unprepared for the crowd. Ya gotta love that speedlight flash!

Find The Saint That I am Married To in this photo!

I was kind of concerned about the crowd, a lot of people (like us) thought that it was kind of like a Christmas light display that ran from dark until 2200 or so. It wasn't, it was actually a show that started at 1930 and went about thirty minutes - thus the big crowd. We lucked out and arrived at about 1900. People continued to arrive throughout the show. Some people weren't real happy about being so far back and made a few comments. Whattaya gonna do? The above photo was taken at 1901, thirty minutes before the show started. It only got bigger.

This excursion was kind of The Saint's idea, I hadn't seen the video and had no idea what was coming. I was pleasantly surprised.

As seen in the video at the top of the post, the whole thing is synced to music. Isn't technology wonderful when used for peaceful purposes?

The "vocalist" windows sang seven numbers, were on key and didn't forget the lyrics even once.

I liked the purty colors!

So did the crowd.

In the end, it was worth the crowd-anxiety, traffic and gas to get there. Thanks to The Saint for suggesting we go and...

Thanks to you for reading.
Schmoe

Fun and Games With Tanker 73

2011-10-26T23:02:00.000-07:00

I hadn't had the camera out of it's bag for a few days, I was trying to get caught up with editing/storing/disseminating a bajillion images that had sat neglected for a month or so. My computer's hard drive was nearly full, so I was forced into getting busy and clearing stuff out.

I was getting close to being done and I heard a report of a brush fire not too far away. It sounded good so I headed out there. The fire ended up being just outside of our jurisdiction, not too far from where I used to work. It was in a fairly accessible area, but as we weren't really involved I really didn't have the access that getting good ground shots would have required.

So, I set up across the highway and got ready for the air show that I knew would be coming. I wasn't disappointed, Cal-Fire sent three tankers and a helicopter. They saved the ground crews a lot of work and made some nearby residents feel a whole lot better about things.

First Pass:
Click on the image to enlarge

He kind of caught me by surprise, I was expecting a pass closer to the head of the fire, not the heel. I was hoping to change lenses before he started this pass, but didn't have time, so the 24-70 was going to have to do. This was the best of the four shots that I got of the pass, cropped a little to remove the traffic jam on the highway and to bring the plane in a little closer.

Second Pass:

I believe they were trying to work a finger that was down in a draw and keep the fire from coming out and causing problems on the right flank. I had changed lenses by then and was able to pull this in a little better. I usually don't like head-on shots, but this one is off just enough to keep me happy. This is the fourth or the fifth of a seven shot sequence.

Third pass:

Still working the draw, though there didn't seem to be a lot of fire activity left in it. They might have been laying a "pink line" to slow/stop the fire until crews could work there way down there and finish it off. As I couldn't see or hear what was going on down there, it is merely a guess on my part.

The fire was knocked down pretty quick, though it looked like they did some burning out to clean things up on the left flank.

As I left, I drove by four "type 1" engines from my agency, staged at the border. As it was a "type 3" engine show, I doubt they were used. I drove home and had a beer, just because I could.

Thanks for reading,
Schmoe

Occupy Riverside?

2011-10-24T11:28:00.000-07:00

Note: These photos were taken on 10/16 and should have been posted last week. Events occurring on my street precluded the posting of them, for that I apologize.

On a whim, I googled the term "Occupy Riverside". With so much publicity of the "Occupy" protests, I wanted to see if we were at risk of occupation as well.

Much to my surprise, I learned that we had already been "occupied" and that people were still occupying the downtown pedestrian mall. Despite my inexperience in dealing with "occupiers" I grabbed my camera and headed to the occupation zone.

I guess I was a day late. The large protest had occurred on Saturday, with a small contingent of protesters remaining to express displeasure of the current economic system. News reports said that several hundred people had participated on Saturday, there were probably forty or fifty people present when I was there. Not all were protesting, many were performing other functions.

Tending to be somewhat conservative politically, I was curious about what the main focus of the local protest would be. From the signs that I saw and the conversations that I had, it appeared that the main message of the exercise was the uneven distribution of wealth between corporate America and the rest of us.

During my conversations, I gracefully neglected to mention my dependence on corporate profits to keep my 457 plans afloat. I also believe that many of the protesters gracefully neglected to mention a deeper political agenda.

I spoke with a few people, one of whom who told me that the Occupy Riverside event was an offshoot of the Occupy LA protest and that even smaller towns, such as Hemet, CA would be having events as well.

I asked a few participants if there had been any opposition to their presence in downtown Riverside. Their response was that there had been a few incidents of people hurling insults such as "dirty hippies" and "get a job". I must say that all of the people I spoke with were reasonably clean and most claimed to have jobs.

I have to state that these people were ORGANIZED. A schedule, defined areas of responsibility, a logistics chain, even security were planned and provided for. It made me think that whoever put this together had done it before.

Sadly, by the time I arrived, the occupation was one largely of signs. I would have liked to have been there when things were in full swing. The large number of signs present told me that a lot of people had been there earlier holding them.

Another thing that I observed was that most of the signs I saw appeared to be hand made, with only a few appearing to be commercially produced. In my mind this is a sign that a majority of the participants were likely those who are pissed off at the system, made a sign and drove down to the event and are not people who got off buses and were handed signs.

I didn't hear any negative reaction from those who drove by, but did see quite a bit of support.

The later it got, the smaller the occupation became. Several people that I spoke with said that they had to get ready for the following work week and wouldn't be back until the following week-end.

Others seemed prepared for spending another night on the mall. The police had told some of the organizers that staying on the mall overnight would not be allowed, but no one had stopped the protesters from camping out during the previous night. My guess is that as long as things remained under control, the occupy Riverside protest would be allowed to stay on the mall, even overnight.

I drove by the mall on the next day, there were just a few people there, waving signs at the passing cars. It's been a week since I've been there so I don't know whats going on now. Whatever occupation that may or may not be going on isn't intruding on anyone or I would have heard of it.

Why Riverside was chosen as a city to occupy I will never know. Riverside is not normally a hotbed of political activism, except when the cops shoot unconscious people or immigration issues boil to the surface.

I find it odd that there are two distinct groups of people who think the country is headed the wrong way, they just disagree on which way it is headed and which way is the right way. As long as both groups can peacefully state their position and not adversely affect others, I don't have any issues with public protests.

If I had to guess, I would say that the occupy movement is being organized by established, trained social activists, ones with socialist agendas. That they are striking a chord with many disenfranchised people is no surprise - there are a lot of unhappy people out there right now.

I am pretty sure that I disagree with most of the group occupying Riverside when it comes to politics, but I am glad they can go down and protest. Everybody I spoke with was friendly, though we really didn't discuss any controversial topics. I would hope the Tea Partiers would display the same manners if I showed up to shoot one of their events, but again I probably wouldn't discuss areas in which we disagree.

I'm glad I went down there and took a few photos, it was an interesting few hours.

Thanks for reading,
Schmoe

Suicidal Dragon

2011-10-21T08:52:00.000-07:00

It sounded as if it had potential. As I was close and had my camera, I opted to go and take some pictures.

I arrived just as the first-in engine was forcing entry. Light smoke coming from the dwelling, the odor of it confirming that it was not overheated food, but contents.

As there was a report of an occupant possibly being inside, the first-in unit opted to make entry and do a hasty search. Fortunately, the report was false. The occupants had left the dwelling prior to the fire.

The crews made entry and found a small, smoldering fire in the bathroom.

MEANWHILE.......

Even though it was a small fire, certain things needed to occur.

The second in truck was assigned RIC. Most crews really don't enjoy the RIC assignment, often the fire is under control by the time RIC is set up and the building is assessed. We still do it, practice like you play is the order of the day.

Accountability is critical, not only on structure fires but on every type of incident. You can't rescue a crew if you don't know that they are in the area of IDLH. The accountability system is a constantly evolving process, we have had several major changes in the tracking system over the past few years.

Even before accountability was a designated incident management function, we were always hammered to keep track of our people, both at the company level and the incident level. The development of accountability systems has made this task a lot easier and far more accurate.

I've seen the safety officer chew more than a little ass over the years, often belonging to someone who wasn't taking the job of accountability officer as serious as they should. Ouch.

BACK AT THE FIRE...

A line was stretched and.the dragon was slain. It turned out that the crews merely delivered the coup de gras,
the dragon had nearly killed itself by the time the line was stretched.

The fire had caused the toilet tank to fail, the sudden presence of water extinguished a majority of the burning material that was on the floor. The dragon killed itself before it could grow into a real fire breather.

**********

Sorry there wasn't fire blowing out of the windows or flames shooting a hundred feet into the sky. Sometimes you have to shoot what you can get. Even fires like this are good for me. I get to see old friends and I get to practice composition and exposure.

Hopefully, when a big one does occur, I will use what I've learned and get some decent shots.

Practice as you play.......

*********

Sorry for the lack of posts, it hasn't been a very good week around Schmoeville and frankly I have been a bit preoccupied. Hopefully, thigs will get better after next week.

Thanks for reading,
Schmoe

Off Topic

2011-10-18T21:31:00.000-07:00

As I sit here and write this, my neighbors are sitting a couple of hundred feet away from me and are experiencing the worst days of their lives. While I feel loss and sorrow, the level of pain that they must be enduring, I cannot even imagine.

They lost two of their sons in a plane crash. Why they are being forced to endure this torture I cannot explain.

It is always asked, why do bad things happen to good people. That question was posed in response to situations such as this. A great family, god-fearing, hard working and close knit ripped apart by a tragic event. A wife and small child left behind, brothers, sisters and parents left as well. Why should they be subjected to this horror while others are not? Frankly, I struggle with this, the cruelty of it and the damage caused to those left behind leaves a foul taste in my mouth.

For the past three days, a constant stream of cars have driven past the house, a multitude of friends stopping by to pat their respects. All touched by either the two boys or by other family members, all shocked and devastated, all wishing it were a bad dream instead of a living nightmare.

I could go on about this forever, the memories are many, the impressions great. Instead, please know that the two men were honorable, good men - ones that the world needs more of, not less.

My heart goes out to the survivors, people who I am honored to know. To Rick and Jeff: rest in peace, though you will be missed your family has the strength of faith, family and friends to help them carry on.

Schmoe

Delivered

2011-10-13T14:45:00.000-07:00

As you may remember, Rambling Chief was the winner of the "Closest to the Pin" contest held last month. The grand prize was an almost new Pelican "Big Ed 4C" flashlight, one that was my back-up if I lost or damaged my primary one. Rambling Chief contacted me and said that a more deserving recipient his prize might be a Fire Explorer, as someone whose career is just starting out.

I contacted a guy who serves as an adviser for a Fire Expolrer post and asked him to come up with a deserving member of his post, one who has a future in the fire service and one who is an outstanding member of the Explorers.

The deserving fire explorer received ~~my, Rambling Chief's~~, HIS new Big Ed recently. You may have seen him on this blog, as he often plays Santa Claus in the "Santa in the Hood" project. He always shows up at my door step in early December, looking for bags of toys. We are glad to oblige.

Anyway, the light went to a good home, the Explorer was grateful to both me and to Rambling Chief for the light.

Congrats to the explorer and to Rambling Chief for both being winners.

Thanks for reading,
Schmoe

Images from the California Wildland Firefighter Memorial Dedication

2011-10-12T10:27:00.000-07:00

The California Wildland Firefighter Memorial was dedicated last weekend, I had the honor of attending. The memorial has been a work in progress, one that started in the mid-nineties. After years of labor, it is finally completed. Below are some of the images that I captured of this special event.

The setting is beautiful, a peaceful place located in an oak grove. The site is next to the El Cariso guard station, home of the El Cariso Hot Shots. Sadly, several El Cariso members are memorialized on this wall.

Two rows of El Cariso Hot Shots. The front, veterans from the '60s, some of whom survived the Loop Fire burnover. The second row are current El Cariso members, currently working to keep the forest safe.

The Honor Guard consisted of members from the U.S. Forest Service, Cal Fire, Los Angeles County Fire and the Orange County Fire Authority. They represented their agencies well, as well honoring as the fallen.

This gentleman, a member of the Los Angeles County Fire Dept, sang the national anthem. He did an amazing job, good enough for a professional sports venue.

There were a lot of speakers, the usual assortment of Chief officers and politicians. They all did well, but I was most impressed with these gentlemen. They were members of the El Cariso Hot Shots in 1966 and survived a burnover on the Loop fire. Eleven members of of their crew were killed, 10 seriously injured and another suffered minor injuries.

Some of these men still carry scars, both physical and emotional from the disaster. To hear them speak was an honor.

The honor guard performed a wreath ceremony, done with precision and perfection.

The bell ceremony signaled the end of the event. The setting and the simple, yet touching ceremony was a fitting way to pay homage to the wildland firefighters who have lost their lives while battling wildfire in California.

I plan to return to the California Wildland Firefighter Memorial, probably on a weekday when no one else is there. The serenity of the setting will provide contrast to the chaotic conditions that exist when the forest burns. If you ever get to Southern California, I reccomend that you do the same.

Strong work to the committee that put this memorial together, you managed to complete something that was long overdue.

Thanks for reading,
Schmoe

The Worst Shift of My Career - Epilogue

2011-10-11T00:01:00.000-07:00

If you missed the first four installments of this series, they can be found Here, Here, Here and Here.

****

Baby Jake is forgotten to most. I hear his mom did her time and has a lot of issues. I am told she doesn't have any contact with the DAs office regarding parole hearings, victims rights events or other events. His grandmother maintained contact for a while, but has not done so for many years. I have carried his poster in a victim's rights march a few times, as have my kids and some other first responders who helped in his delivery.

His murderer was up for parole last April, probably for the fourth or fifth time. Fortunately, the panel has seen fit to keep the bastard in prison and he remains incarcerated. Thanks to the net, I keep track of his whereabouts. I keep hoping that someone inside will hear of his crime and shank him. I shudder when I think of him out on the streets.

The father of the two little girls who burned to death in the car fire was sent back to prison on a parole violation. The DA felt that the chances of a successful child neglect prosecution were slight, so charges were no filed. As a result of the investigation however, enough information came to light to violate him and send him back to prison for another year or so. I guess that's better than nothing.

The little boy who started the fire must be a young man by now. He shouldn't have too many physical scars, I am unsure of emotional ones. He was pretty little when this occurred, maybe he won't remember much. My guess is that he had a tough road ahead of him, even before the fire.

We never did find out for sure who or what started the apartment on fire. It was likely a "negative corpus" arson fire, but without follow-up it just never went anywhere. Someone likely got away with arson. It wouldn't be the first time, nor the last.

This rotten shift occurred during the holiday season. I went through a series of several years in a row where major trauma/strife/chaos/mayhem occurred during the holiday season. As a semi-grinch, I didn't need that kind of BS to further dampen my holiday spirit, so I figured out a way to get from Thanksgiving to New Years off each year. It was a strategy that worked well for me..

Unlimited time trades is a good clause to have in your contract. I know the city would like to get that back, I hope the guys are too smart to give that up. It's a great benefit that doesn't cost the department any money at all.

That pretty much wraps up this series. I know many of you have had worst shifts, some might say that I'VE had worse shifts. I can only tell you that for whatever reason, this is the one that got to me the most. Through it all though, it was still the best damn job that I ever had.

Thanks for reading,
Schmoe

The Knife I Used To Carry or Schmoe The Idiot

2011-10-10T11:22:00.000-07:00

Remember that post from a few weeks ago, that one about that bitchin' Spyderco knife that I don't leave home without?

Well, if you get over to the Sacramento landfill fast enough, you might find it before it gets buried under a bajillion tons of garbage.

I, being the idiot that I am, forgot that I had my wonderful Spyderco Delica in my pocket until I got to the "last chance" trash can before entering the passenger screening area at the Sacramento airport. Not knowing what would happen if I turned it over to TSA (and not really wanting to find out), I used the "last chance" trash can and disposed of it.

As I was out of town, had checked my luggage and didn't have time to track down a UPS drop box, I really felt that I had no other choice. It hurt, but I am sure that dealing with the TSA would have hurt a lot worse.

I never really thought about it before, but it is a good thing that those cans are placed where they are. They save idiots like me from embarrassment and certain grief.

If, by chance, a TSA agent saw me dump the knife and somehow retrieved it, I hope that they get many years of use from it. I sure did and I miss it.

It's a good thing that I have another one, one that I like almost as much. Hopefully I won't ever have to toss it away, I don't want to have to buy another one.

Thanks for reading,
A woeful Schmoe

Schmotographs - Treasure Island

2011-10-07T11:09:00.000-07:00

The Saint That I Am Married To and I were able to sneak off to San Fransisco for a few hours last weekend. We were up north on business and found a free afternoon so we grabbed a rental car and made the trek.

One of the places we checked out was Treasure Island, which is in the middle of San Fransisco Bay. Treasure Island is a man-made island that was built for the 1939 Worlds Fair. It was also used as a Navy base for many years, many shipboard firefighters were trained there. The Navy closed the base several years ago, now it awaits environmental clean up before redevelopment can fully occur.

Today, it sits. Only partially used, it is a diamond in the rough. We, like many, have a morbid fascination with the vacant, unused and abandoned. We spent a few hours there, time well spent.

There are five wineries on the island, sadly no breweries. We stopped at this one, which is housed in the old brig (navy jail) that served the island. The owner started the process in 2008 and is selling his first bottling. We are not wine aficionados, but we did enjoy his samples so we bought a few bottles.

We found these gems, leftovers from '50s and '60s era signage. These used to be mounted on poles in front of restaurants called Doggie Diner, a chain of 24 hot dog stands that ran from 1949 until 1986. Now, most of the surviving Doggie Heads are owned privately and make apperances at art festivals and counter culture events. As wiener dog fans, we had to stop and take a picture of these signs when we spotted them on a trailer stored on Treasure Island. I'd love to have one of these, but they are over six feet all and reportedly weigh over 200 lbs.

click to enlarge

Location! Location! Location! Treasure Island's best asset it it's location. This is a pano shot of the San Fransisco skyline, taken from the West side of the island. A great view when the weather is good.

I was so impressed with the island's view of the city, we stopped back by there on the way back to Sacramento. The place was crawling with photographers, all wanting a shot of the night-scape. I'm glad I stopped.

I have been to San Fransisco many times over the years and have had a great time each trip. I have learned not to discuss politics with the locals and have learned that the best things about the city are not found at Fisherman's Wharf or at the other tourist spots. It's the out of the way spots, as it is in most places, where the treasure is located.

Have a great weekend.

Thanks for reading,
Schmoe

BABIES...

2011-10-06T08:00:00.000-07:00

...Don't let your mommas grow old and be hoarders.

I'm just sayin'.

Thanks for reading,
Schmoe

The Worst Shift Of My Career Part #3 - The Winds Truly Blow

2011-10-05T13:09:00.000-07:00

Fourth Installment in a series of five. This installment does not involve small children being murdered or burnt to death, but involves a whiny captain - fire investigator who was not dealing with the days events very well.

******
I heard the call go out as we were finishing up the investigation on the burned-up little kids. Units in the second battalion were sent to an apartment complex, where an apartment was reported to be on fire. Someone had a radio tuned to the command channel and I heard the first in unit report heavy smoke and fire visible from a two-story apartment building.

"That one's yours", the lead investigator told me. "I'm not available and Chuckie's going to the hospital for follow-up. You're on your own".

I still had to finish up at the car fire, I decided to take my time and do it right. Maybe I would get lucky and a company officer at the apartment fire would figure it out and determine it to be accidental.

I monitored the apartment incident, and heard a request for a couple of extra engines, the IC was concerned about extension. The winds were still howling, the IC was being prudent. If the fire got into the attic, a large portion of the building could easily be lost. As we learned from my last post, these winds have a habit of turning small incidents into large ones.

After a short while, I heard the apartment incident declared under control. The crews must have done a great job in confining the majority of damage to the apartment of origin. I heard the request for an investigator as I was loading things up into the unit. I acknowledged the request, and headed toward the scene. I knew where I was headed, my in-laws lived across the street from the complex. Although not a "project" complex, it wasn't a luxury complex either. This was the second significant fire in the complex within a year.

I arrived on scene and found a few units remaining on scene. Most of the units had been released, as there was a shortage of available units and the winds were still causing a high call volume. I contacted the IC and quickly determined that no one had a clue where the fire started and that no one had been in the involved apartment when the first-in unit arrived.

The apartment had flashed over fairly early in the event, several rooms were burned out. This, combined with the above information meant that this was likely not going to be easy.

Investigating fire scenes are not unlike most other investigations. It is a game of being thorough and one of documentation. Both components are required, one is pretty much useless without the other. You need to do XYZ, but if you do not document your actions, don't bother. It can be tedious, though interesting. Although we liked to work in pairs, budgetary constraints often prevented this from happening. Doing the field work alone adds to the time, doing the documentation alone adds to the tedium.

On this evening, with a shortage of available units, I cut the suppression units loose and chose to go it alone. Photos, sketches and notes - starting from the outside of the scene and working to the center. Interviews and more notes. Eliminating electrical, natural gas and mice with matches. More photos, more notes and digging. Digging and sifting.

Darkness and a semi-hazardous work environment added to my melancholic state of mind, a rapidly dropping air temperature added to my physical discomfort.

Examination of the fire scene revealed burn patterns that indicated the fire started in the living room, on or near the remains of a coffee table and the south end of a sofa. Reportedly, no one had been in the unit for at least 24 hours as the tenants had moved out the day before. I didn't determine the actual event that caused the fire, but did eliminate the most likely accidental causes. After three hours, I still didn't have an answer and wouldn't have one until some follow up investigation was completed. Follow-up which would never occur, as the overtime budget was depleted.

In other words, another frustrating event in a totally screwed day.

Again, there is no tragedy in this installment, just me whining. I must say that on most days, none of this stuff would have really bugged me, we all have bad days. For some reason, on this particular day, the sequence and type of incidents formed the perfect storm and jacked me up. I know people that have had several days like this, I was lucky only to have this one. I'm glad I won't have another like this again.

To be continued....

Thanks for reading,
Schmoe

The Worst Shift Of My Career Part 2 - From Bad to Worse

2011-10-03T13:09:00.000-07:00

Third installment of a series. The first installment can be found HERE. The second is located HERE.

As predicted, the faint, warm breeze turned into a full blown Santa Ana, building throughout the day and howling by mid-afternoon. Also as predicted, the call volume for the department was howling as well. As we were the second out engine at station #1, we were not as affected by the lines down, arcing power lines or ringing alarms as other units, but we were still busy.

The tones hit about three P.M, this time for a reported vehicle fire on the east side. Nothing remarkable at his point, car fires are not unusual in this mostly poor neighborhood, one with many cars in marginal mechanical condition.

A few blocks out and a few minutes into the response, dispatch advised us that they were getting multiple reports of the fire and also a report of a burn victim. They asked if we wanted an ambulance and an additional engine, I confirmed the ambulance and told dispatch that I would advise on the need for a second engine. We could see no smoke even though we were only a block or two away.

We rounded the corner and had no difficulty finding the incident. A sedan with the passenger compartment well involved was parked on the curb, the smoke and flames laying nearly horizontal, being pushed by the strong wind. One small group of people were kneeling and standing around a small form laying on the ground, another was standing around someone holding a small child. Yet another child was in the arms someone else, a crowd not present around him.

It took a second for the true nature of the incident to set in, the scope of it much larger than the typical vehicle fire. From the looks and gestures of the various groups of people, it was apparent that we had at least two burn victims, probably seriously injured. The second engine was requested as was a second ambulance.

I had my firefighter go to where the victim was laying on the ground and gave my engineer the responsibility of setting the pump and extinguishing the fire. I went to check the second victim and to get a more complete grasp of the incident.

The second victim, a child of around three years old was still in the arms of an adult as I walked up. I was shocked at the severity of her injures. Her hair was burned to the point of being discolored and partially removed. She was burned over a large portion of her body, I don't remember the percentage. The burns appeared to be serious second degree, which meant that they were likely third degree. She was crying, though barely.

I wanted to see the condition of the first victim, so I walked over to where my firefighter was assessing her. Her condition appeared to be in worse shape than the second patient, she was unconscious and there was more of her skin hanging from her head and upper torso. She appeared to be younger, if I remember correctly, probably around two.

It was around this time that the person carrying the third child approached me and I goat a good look at him. He was about five, was conscious and crying loudly. His hair was burned, as was his skin, though his injuries appeared to be less severe than that of the other two.

I looked around to see if there were any others and I noticed a man running from kid to kid, obviously in a state of extreme upset. He said that he was the kid's father, I don't remember what else was said. A large crowd had gathered by now, I could sense some anger in it. I asked for the cops, I needed to keep the scene secure.

The ambulance arrived quickly, the first two patients were quickly loaded and transported. They by-passed the local ER and were sent to the nearest burn center, located in the next county. It's funny, our protocols state that burn patients should be sent to the nearest ER for stabilization, then transferred to the burn center. That rarely happens, once base station contact is made, they almost always have them sent directly to the burn center.

The second ambulance and second engine arrived a few minutes later, the third patient actually made it to the local ER before being transferred to the burn center later. I have to believe that it had more to do with the burn center being maxed with our first two patients, than it did with following protocol.

My engineer did a very good job knocking down the fire, the second engine only had to help with overhaul and then was quickly released. All that remained, was to find out what happened.

Even though I was an investigator at the time, I felt that someone with more experience should take the lead, as the cause of this fire would be heavily scrutinized. Three critical injuries from a vehicle fire are definitely not normal, especially when the victims were children.

The lead investigator and one of the other shift investigators came out and we began looking into the tragedy. The other shift investigator began interviewing the father and witnesses, the head investigator began examination and photographing the car. I assisted the head investigator.

It was pretty obvious that the fire began inside the passenger compartment. The damage to the engine compartment was less severe, burn patterns indicating that the fire had moved into the engine compartment from the passenger compartment, not the other way around. There was no fire damage under the car, very little in the trunk.

We were able to narrow the area of origin to the passenger's side floor area of the front seat, where we found the remains of clothing and papers. We also found the remains of a lighter. Witnesses and the father said that the kids had been left alone in the car, while the father went inside a nearby house to take care of some business. At some point, the fire was noticed and the father made aware of it. I am not sure if some of the witnesses were aware that three small kids were inside the car as they watched it burn. The father and at least one other person were able to open the car and get the kids out before it became fully involved.

The two little girls were still strapped in their car-seats, secured in the back seat when they were removed from the car. The little boy was pulled from the floor of the back seat. The father said that the little boy was seated in the front passenger seat when he went into the house and also said that he had left the car unlocked when he left it, but that it was locked when he tried to get the kids out.

After putting the pieces together, we were able to determine that the little boy had been playing with the lighter in the front seat while left unattended. After the fire started, the little boy had hit the door lock while trying to escape the fire, trapping the kids and much of the smoke inside the car. At some point, the little boy found the front seat untenable and crawled into the back seat, then onto the floor. That action saved his life.

The little girls were not so lucky, the heat from the fire went up to the roof of the car, where it mushroomed laterally across the ceiling, then down upon their heads and upper torsos. They were strapped in their car-seats, unable to escape the heat and smoke until removed from the car by others. I don't know for sure, but I suspect that one of the windows failed, allowing some smoke to escape and causing the fire to be noticed. When the other side door was opened, the strong winds acted to fan the flames further, turning the car into a blowtorch.

In any event, the two little girls died a few days later, while still in the burn unit. It was a horrific, painful experience for those kids, one that nobody should have to endure, especially kids. I view those kids as victims, not unlike Baby Jake.

The failures of adults causing their deaths. I thought we are supposed to care for our kids

For me, another crappy component of what turned out to be a pretty crappy day. First Jake, now this.

To be continued.

Smoke, Light and Shadow

2011-10-01T00:06:00.000-07:00

The Saint I Am Married To and I are in Sacramento Ca, attending a Valor Awards Ceremony. As such, I am not able to continue to work on "The Worst Shift of My Career" series, until I return home. Until then, here is a photo that was taken at a structure fire that occurred not too far from our home.

Although they made a quick knockdown, these guys were there for hours overhauling the fire. A heavy fire load made for a lot of work.

Have a great weekend.

Thanks for reading,
Schmoe

The Worst Day Of My Career - Part One: The Revalation

2011-09-30T00:11:00.000-07:00

November 1996

It started like any other day. Awake before dawn and before the alarm went off. Threw on a shirt, staggered out to the street and got the paper. Staggered back inside and got the coffee started.. Staggered back to the bathroom and peed. Headed up to the kitchen and poured a cup of coffee. Took a chair, enjoyed a cup and read the paper.I, like most everybody, am a creature of habit.

I could tell as I staggered out to the curb, that the day was going to be warm and dry. A warm breeze was coming from the ENE, a sure sign of a pending Santa Ana wind event. The Santa Anas are a regional weather pattern that usually occur in the fall and early winter. They have the potential to turn small incidents into large scale disasters, all of the firefighters in the area are wary when they blow. I can rattle off dozens of major wildfires involving the loss of thousands of homes and the deaths of dozens of people that have occurred during Santa Ana wind events. They can be brutal.

I always started with the local section, I wanted to see if any of the stuff my department ran on made the paper. Back then, the paper was locally owned and profitable. They actually called us every day to see if anything newsworthy had occurred. I have made the cover of the local section a few times over the years, as have many of my friends.

I don't remember what caught my eye first, but it was probably the headline. I can't quote it, but it went something like "DA Frustrated That Jury Can't Reach First Degree Murder Verdict". For some reason, I read the article. It was about a murder trial in town. The case involved the murder of a four month old baby, who was killed by his step-father. His mother had some role in the case, she had plead guilty to a child neglect charge, likely in exchange for testifying against her husband.

The article went into the details of the crime, and how evidence indicated that the baby had been tortured for nearly all of it's short life, with numerous healed fractures showing up on x-rays. The article also mentioned vast quantities of scars that were present on the baby's body. Apparently, things had gotten a little out of hand one day and the baby, tough as he was, succumbed to his injuries.

For some reason, the jury could not agree on a guilty verdict for first degree murder, but were able to agree on second degree murder. The DA was outraged. Rather than life without parole, the defendant was looking at twelve to fifteen years. Provided he was a good boy in prison, he could be paroled in as little as seven years. I shared the DA's outrage, enough so that I read the entire article.

Toward the end of the article, the unusual circumstances of the baby's birth were mentioned, circumstances that included being born in a car on the freeway. At some point, a light came on and I realized that the murdered baby was likely Baby Jake, the subject of my last post. The first name was the same, the dates of the murder, the age of the baby and my recollection of Jake's birth-date all coincided. Yet, I was still not totally sure. Still, the news hit me like a ton of bricks.

One of my heroes, the toughest baby I ever met, had been murdered? By his parents? Unbelievable. I tried to get my head around the matter and went to work. As soon as eight o'clock rolled around, I got on the phone and called the DAs office. By some miracle, the deputy DA who prosecuted the case picked up his phone and spoke with me.

I could hear the emotion in his voice as he told me about the case. Basically, Jake lived a life of pain, torture and agony., all at the hands of people who were supposed to care for him. All of the crap that Jake endured when he was born, was just so that he could be the target of a sadistic murderer, one who his derelict mom picked out to be her partner. What a tragedy., It still saddens me when I think of it, it still angers me as well.

To be continued.....

Thanks for reading,
Schmoe

The Worst Shift of My Career - Prologue: The Birth

2011-09-28T22:40:00.000-07:00

Autumn - 1992

Ben and Paul normally didn't work with us. They worked on a privately owned ambulance in the center of town, at station #3, two districts away. As A shift had wrecked our squad, Paul and Ben's ambulance was moved into our station. We were glad to have them, the presence of paramedics meant that ALS capabilities were available to our customers that much quicker.

The call came in during the afternoon. It was for a woman in labor, one who was in a car, parked on the side of the freeway. The engine and ambulance were dispatched from our station, an additional engine was sent from sta. #3. Ben and Paul would have been there anyway, their temporary assignment just got them there faster.

Ben and Paul arrived first, we a few moments later. The ambulance spotted in front of the car, I spotted the engine behind it, shielding it and us from the onslaught of freeway traffic. As an engineer, I had to secure the engine and the scene before walking toward the patient and the crews.

Typically, childbirth calls result in a quick assessment and transport to the hospital. As I approached the car, I could see through the rear window. Frankly, I was not quite prepared for what I saw.

Our first patient was naked from the waist down, laying on the back seat. Our soon to be second patient, was only partially visible to us, part of him was still inside our first. Unfortunately, the part of him that was hidden from us was the most important part, his head. I couldn't help notice that the infant was a deep shade of blue as he sort of dangled limply from his mother, all of him out except for his head. I silently compared his skin color to that of our uniform pants.

Either Ben or Paul (sorry, I can't remember which) was in the back seat along with one of our firefighters, while Captain Hatchet began to get information from the family. I, as ever the perfect engineer, stood by and wrung my hands.

The focus of the medic's efforts were to relieve pressure on the umbilical cord, as it was wedged tightly between the vaginal opening and the infant's head. The problem was, there was absolutely no room to work gloved fingers into the opening next to the cord and relieve the pressure. The medic tried for several minutes with no success. It rapidly became apparent, that the best action for us to take was to get the patients to the hospital and quickly.

The two crews manipulated the mother and the limp, blue partially delivered infant onto the gurney and into the ambulance.

Off to the hospital they went. I said a quick prayer as they left, sure that the infant's first vision would be that of his maker. I was pretty sure that baby wasn't going to make it.

As none of our people went to the hospital with the ambulance, we had to wait until the private ambulance crew returned to the station before finding out the baby's status. Ben and Paul were in a state of disbelief, as the story only got better after they left the scene and went en-route. They had continued to try to relieve pressure on the umbilical while en-route to the hospital, again with no success. The intensity and the pressure of the situation continued to build, until they pulled into the E.R. parking lot and drove over a speed bump. It was at that point that the infant popped completely out.

Again, I don't remember the details, but I believe that the cord had stopped pulsating long before and so it was cut as soon as the head delivered. I also believe that resuscitative efforts were begun as the ambulance rolled to a stop. Regardless, as soon the ambulance stopped, the rear door was flung open and a nurse from the ER grabbed the infant and hauled ass into the ER.

She made it through the door, then promptly dropped the baby onto the floor of the hallway. Paul saw it happen as he looked up while unloading the gurney. He was shocked, but could do nothing as he was busy with the mother. The infant was scooped up off of the floor, still limp and blue and was whisked into a treatment room. The mother was taken to another room and treated there. Ben and Paul returned to the station and told us what had occurred. We were as shocked as they were.

We were even more shocked eight hours later when Ben and Paul came back from the hospital after running another call. They had asked the ER staff about the status of the infant and were shocked to hear that the baby was very much alive, breathing on his own and was actually in pretty good shape considering the shape that he was in.

Two shifts later, I called the NNICU and spoke with the charge nurse, who told us that the baby was doing very well and would be going home in a few days. Heppa was not on the horizon yet, so patient follow-up was pretty common.We decided to take a trauma teddy down to the hospital, so we bought a card and went visiting. The nurse let us into the room and we got to see him. He really looked pretty healthy, I kind of viewed him as a miracle.

The mother wasn't there at the time, so we dropped off the bear and the card and took off. I received a thank- you card a month or so later, she was kind enough to send the above photo.

This call kind of stuck with me, for a few reasons. First, was the strong will to survive that this kid seemed to have and his apparent toughness. I related this story a number of times over the following few years and always referred to Jake as the toughest baby that I ever met.

At the time that this occurred, My wife and I were expecting our second child, a son, who was born a few weeks after Jake. I remember thinking as I watched Jake endure his birth, that under the wrong circumstances, that could be our kid, born on a freeway with a bunch of firemen and paramedics serving as midwives. But for circumstances and fate, that could have been us.

To be continued......

Thanks for reading,
Schmoe

The Knife I Carry

2011-09-24T10:53:00.000-07:00

Several blogs that I read recently posted on the knives that they carry and why. While I wouldn't ordinarily write about something as inanimate and cold as a knife, I thought about it and realized that I really like my knife and do so for a good reason.

I come from a long line of knife carriers. My grandfather carried a pocket knife, as did my father. I never did until I started as a volunteer firefighter in the early eighties. I started with an ordinary three blade pocket knife, then moved up to a Buck 100, worn in a leather pouch on my belt. Neither were a good choice, the Buck was more of a fashion statement than anything, all of the experienced firefighters carried one.

At some point, I purchased a Spyderco Delica. I bought it from Pete, a man-toy dealer who used to come by the stations on a regular basis. Pete sold knives, hatchets, flashlights, crossbows etc. from a step van.

Pete also sold the occasional gun from the step-van, a fact I discovered one day while digging through a milk-crate full of Russian night vision goggles. I pointed the Smith and Wesson revolver out to Pete, he told me to forget about it. My suspicions were confirmed a few years later, while I was in the arson unit. An ATF agent that we were partnered with, told me that Pete was under investigation for dealing guns. Apparently, Pete wasn't licensed to sell firearms nor was he real careful who he sold them to. I don't know what the result of the investigation was, though I heard that he did change his business model. I digress.

Buying the Spyderco was one of the best work-related purchases I ever made, though the first one I bought was on impulse, not on logic. The early models had a plastic belt clip which turned out to be a less than stellar design. I broke mine off in less than a year. Pete, always a customer service oriented vendor, simply replaced it with one equipped with a metal belt clip. I was so impressed with "new and improved" model, that I have been carrying one ever since.

I actually own three of these. The original "new and improved" model, which is equipped with a smooth blade, the unit above, with the half smooth / half serrated blade and a full serrated blade that I picked up somewhere. I like this knife because of it's light weight, it's ability to hold an edge, the durability of it's design and it's ergonomics. It's moderate price point is a bonus.

I really like the ergonomics. The metal belt clip can be moved from one side of the knife or the other. The positioning of the clip allows me to be able to draw the knife, open it and put it to work with one hand. The thumb hole greatly facilitates this process.

I have received other knives of similar quality as gifts, none have worked out as well as the Delica. I gave a Gerber away and have a few other "good" knives rat-holed away in a drawer somewhere.

When we deployed to New Orleans for the Katrina response, I screwed up and forgot to switch my knife from my jeans to my uniform pants. I went to the largest natural disater in U.S. history without my trusty knife. I was fortunate that one of our team members had a brother who works for the TSA. Apparently, the rules for disposing of confiscated items are not always followed. Our team member brought a bag full of confiscated knives that he allegedly received from his brother and I was able to get one of those. Frankly, the knives in the bag were all cheap Chinese imports and every time I used my loaner, it made me miss my Spyderco that much more.

Though I no longer need a knife for work, I still use my knife on a daily basis. Unless some new kind of "miracle knife" is developed, I will remain loyal to my Spyderco Delica. It's that good.

Thanks for reading,
A "sharp" Schmoe

The Fine Print: Joseph Schmoe nor any of the Report on Conditions staff have received any money, merchandise or any other compensation for the endorsement of this product.

"It's Just A Freaken' Game" - Bryan Stow Update

2011-09-22T21:00:00.000-07:00

The baseball season is winding down, so has the uproar over the beating of Bryan Stow, an AMR paramedic up in the San Fransisco Bay area. Bryan, as you may remember, was attending the baseball season opener down at Dodger Stadium as the Dodgers took on the San Fransisco Giants. He made the mistake of wearing his Giants jersey to Dodger Stadium and of assuming that all Dodger fans are civilized human beings. He paid for his error in judgment by being beaten nearly to death. Bryan suffered tremendous brain damage in the assault and has been in a comatose state since April. Though some improvement has been observed, the overall outlook was still not good for a significant recovery. The injury was just too severe. I originally posted on it back in April, the original post CAN BE FOUND HERE.

After the initial uproar died down, updates occasionally showed up in the media. Unfortunately, there was little good news to report. After a while, the reports stopped showing up and other news took over the headlines.

I happened to be listening to a local radio station today, to a show that has actually kept up on Bryan's condition.
They were interviewing Bryan's sister, who had just left the facility where Bryan is receiving re-hab. Apparently, Bryan has just started to speak, is answering a few questions and asked to see his kids. Although he has not truly regained consciousness, he is in what is referred to as a "waxing and waning state of consciousness". The family is ecstatic, and is hopeful that he continues to improve.

Although his status is not as good as most would like, the family is extremely grateful that Bryan has improved as much as he has. His improvement has provided hope, something that many in Bryan's situation do not have. Every bit of improvement is a blessing and provides further hope. I hope that Bryan continues to improve, our thoughts and prayers are with him and his family.

*******

On a side note, Bryan's family has filed a lawsuit on his behalf against the Dodgers and the myriad of other companies that make up the Dodger organization. Although I am not usually a fan of litigation of this type, I fell that this suit may be justified.

The Dodger organization has known for a long time that their fan base could be problematic, yet did nothing to remedy the situation. It has been reported that security was reduced prior to Bryan's beating. It has been greatly increased since.

Attendance has been way down this year, the Dodgers would like to blame it on team owner Frank and Jamie McCourt's divirce, the economy and their losing season. Funny, the thug mentality that prevails in the stands is rarely mentioned. I think people are just tired of the crap in the stands.

I know I won't go and see the Cubs when they come to town, I'd rather drive down to San Diego or to Arizona. Pity, that.

Thanks for reading,
Schmoe

Glow Worms

2011-09-22T10:36:00.000-07:00

When I first started in the fire service, Haz-Mat was a kind of new concept. Unless it appeared really, really dangerous, we pulled a booster line and hosed the offending substance down into the storm drain. Of course shortly after I came on, we realized that this was a flawed mitigation strategy and began operating a little differently.

Initially, we used the county for Haz-Mat service and it worked OK. As their awareness level increased, the sole Haz-Mat unit became busier and busier, until there were a few times where we had to wait quite a while for them to show up. It was then that we started our own Haz-Mat team.

As a young firefighter, I had images of green and orange vapor clouds of methyl-ethyl bad stuff spewing from railroad cars, which happened to be parked next to orphanage run by leperatic nuns. The Haz-mat team would pull up, quickly don their magic suits and rescue all of the orphans and nuns, carefully de-conning the victims and securing the leaking tank car.

After a few calls with the Haz-Mat team, I soon realized that this was not usually the case and that Haz-Mat calls were often exercises in slow, calculated, methodic responses - often to the point of tedium.

The Haz-Mat call of my career came shortly after I made captain, it did nothing to change my view of Haz-Mat calls and killed any remaining desire of joining the unit. More on this later.

I have been trying to get some incident photos of the Haz-mat unit for quite some time and have been largely unsuccessful. A few days ago, I thought I was finally going to score some good shots, but the incident turned out to be less intense than it initially sounded though I did snap a few pics.

The call involved some lab equipment that may not have been working as designed. The incident objectives were primarily to monitor the air and secure the equipment. Level B protection was selected as a precaution and it worked out well.

The initial objectives for any hazardous incident are to isolate, evacuate and deny entry. This facility had an emergency event procedure in placed and used it. It went pretty well. The employees were stoked as it was close to quitting time and they were allowed to leave early. Ya-hoo!

A few years ago, we were able to upgrade our converted motor home to a real-live, designed from the ground up Haz-Mat unit. It is full of toys and gadgets, most of which I have no knowledge of. One thing I do know about is the mast-mounted video camera which allows personnel inside the unit to see whats going on outside from afar. Unprofessional operators could really get into trouble with a toy like that, fortunately our glow worms are far too professional to fall into that trap!

Nothing like wrapping yourself up in a plastic bag on a 94 degree day! At least they were able to park in the shade, the other side of the rig was probably ten degrees warmer.

Even when the situation is not critical, rule and procedures must be followed. The guy with the clipboard is using a checklist to ensure all of the critical bases are covered.

After the walk from the Haz-Mat unit to the exclusion or "red" zone the entry team members make the final preparations and get ready to go in. The last thing that they will do is go "on air".

The worms go in, the worms go out. Total time in the hot zone was less than 10 minutes. All indications were normal, imagery was sent back to the entry team leader and then to the lab supervisor who verified the findings. The offending lab equipment was secured and verified by the lab supervisor. There was no release, so decontamination was not required. Stick a fork in 'em they're done.

Well, done except for putting everything away.

Maybe my next post will have some great shots of the orphans and nuns being rescued or huge orange and green vapor clouds spewing from a tank car. Or not. Regardless, this will have to do.

Thanks for reading,
Schmoe

Thoughts on the Reno Air Races disaster

2011-09-19T10:13:00.000-07:00

Its been a few days since the news of the disaster up in Reno, NV hit the web like a wildfire. The death toll currently stands at 9, with several patients in remaining critical condition. The number of patients transported under EMS was reported to be 56, with local hospitals reportedly treating 69 patients. It appears that some patients serf-transported.

An anonymous reader sent me THIS LINK to a recording of the radio traffic from the incident. It appears that everybody operated in a relatively calm and functional fashion during the incident and maintained control.

L.A. Times reported that all patients who were transported by EMS were off-site within 62 minutes, a remarkable event considering the magnitude of the incident. This performance was not by accident, a regional MCI exercise held in May, rehearsed the same emergency, a plane into the crowd. Planning with event organizers, daily briefings and on-site responders, staged and ready to go all helped the effectiveness of the response.

The exercise held in May was exceptionally effective, in that it dealt with a real live possibility, one that was relevant to the risks that the participating agencies faced. That it apparently involved not only responders, but EMS authorities and hospitals further aided the response and treatment of patients.

The actions of the response to the incident will be placed under a microscope, and examined by regulators, politicians and lawyers representing the victims. Hopefully, the time spent in preparation of the incident will help reduce the amount of strife that the aftermath will surely produce.

The NTSB and associated agencies are conducting the investigation, it will be many months for the definitive cause of the crash is announced. As this was an event attended by many affluent and technologically savvy people, it was well documented through still photographs and video. Several images of the aircraft, taken seconds before the impact, show a part from one of the control surfaces separating from the aircraft. This has caused many to speculate on the cause. The investigation will certainly examine those images, as well as the remains of the aircraft to determine whether the failure was the cause of the event or a result of another failure or event.

In a thorough investigation, all components of the incident are examined, including maintenance records, the pilot's medical history and qualifications, prior damage to the aircraft, modifications to the aircraft (it appears to have been heavily modified), weather and any other factor that may have influenced the incident.

In addition, the event itself will be looked at to ensure that all applicable regulations were complied with and that the event was properly monitored for compliance.

The scope of the investigation is one reason that it takes so long for the report to be released. All bases must be covered, there is so much riding on the findings to no be thorough.

The media was quick to point out that there have been other fatal events at the Reno Air Races, though this is the first crash that involved spectator fatalities. There has already been speculation as to whether this event will ever be held again, at least in it's present form.

It is only a matter of time before the politicians will be stepping all over themselves, calling for regulation to "ensure that this does not happen again". With the number of victims involved, litigators are lining up to find clients who are seeking to be "made whole again", a process that usually only makes the attorney whole, the victim's loss not able to be corrected by litigation.

There are so many losers in a disaster like this. Obviously, the biggest losers are the victims who were killed and their families, followed by those who suffered permanent injuries and loss. The friends and families of the lost, the local economy, the fans, the industry and all of other stakeholders.

Through it all, the responders and bystanders who did what it took to reduce the effects of the disaster can hold up their heads, they did their job and they did it well. Strong work.

Thanks for reading,
Schmoe

MCI Plane Crash at Reno Air Races

2011-09-16T18:22:00.000-07:00

Details are sketchy, but a plane crash occurred at the Reno Air Races late Friday afternoon. USA Today is reporting that a P-51 Mustang crashed into the "box seat area" of the crowd at about 1630 local time.

The P-51, a WWII era fighter was reportedly piloted by Jimmy Leeward when it crashed into the crowd. The video below shows the aircraft plunging vertically into or near the crowd.

A spokesman for the air race told the AP that the situation was a "mass casualty event".

The Chicago Sun-Times quoted Stephanie Kruse, a spokesperson for the Regional Medical Service Authority as saying that 25 people were critically injured and another 25 were seriously injured. More than 25 more people were treated for minor injuries, she reportedly said.

These are early numbers, hopefully they go down. There are also some unconfirmed reports of numerous fatalities, but as they are not confirmed I will not post the numbers.

A tragedy for all involved, I am sure the local ARFF and EMS plan for this type of disaster, but it still has to be a strain on resources. I will post more on this when confirmed details become available. Keep the pilot, victims and responders in you thoughts as this develops.

Schnoe

Carrying One's Own

2011-09-15T15:05:00.000-07:00

There is nothing like watching an Honor Guard in action, carrying the remains of a fallen comrade. As much as I hate seeing it, there is some level of comfort knowing that one's brethren care enough to perform that final duty, one of effort, sweat and sacrifice.

We just got our TV hooked up yesterday, after it spent the last several months in the garage, covered in plastic. As it was about dinner time, I switched on the news then continued what I was working on. A few minutes later I walked by the set and noticed a video of six officers from the City of Chino Police Department, bearing a flag-covered casket, carrying it from a church. The next shot was of the Chief of Police, eulogizing their fallen comrade and then that of a weeping family.

I stopped what I was doing, as I had heard nothing of an officer being killed or of one passing from other causes. I rewound the TV and started the segment over. It was then that I heard the story.

Their fallen comrade was a little boy, who had passed away from brain cancer. Prior to his death, he had been sworn in as an honorary police officer for the Chino Police Department. Apparently, his dream was to be a police officer when he grew up, a dream that was realized when he was seven years old, mere weeks before his death.

View more videos at: http://nbclosangeles.com.

The story aggravated my allergy condition, one that seems to get worse with age. I thought it touching enough to share with you, sad, yet uplifting in a way.

Strong work to the men and women of the Chino P.D, Ya done good yesterday.

Thanks for reading,
Schmoe

Apparently, It wasn't enough!

2011-09-14T09:17:00.000-07:00

My last post started out with an apology, one for trivializing the recent earthquake that occurred a few weeks ago in the state of Virginia. Although sincere, it appears that the apology was not enough. Don't ask me how, but my readers from Virginia somehow conspired and sent me a little reminder of how disconcerting ground movement can be.

Without providing too much information, let me just say that when this one struck, I was in a somewhat compromising position. One that occurs on a regular basis for most of us, one that for me, usually includes a session with my favorite kokuro puzzle book, a cup of coffee and my jeans around my ankles.

The jolt was short and very sharp. For the uninitiated, every earthquake around here is analyzed by most of us. After the initial movement is felt, the next few seconds is used to determine whether this is going to evolve into something larger and whether a reaction is in order. None of us "temblor veteranos" wants to be viewed as a sissy by screaming or running amok without good reason. Nor do any of us want to be seen tripping over our un-donned trousers and face planting onto the front lawn.

I quickly determined that this quake was very minor, but that it's epicenter was very close. As an EMS professional, (emergency moronic seismologist) I figured that the magnitude was mid-threes and located within 5 miles of my location. I calmly finished my business, though I could feel the effects of adrenaline for quite some time.

There is a reason that I went into the fire service and not into seismology. The local seismologists are brilliant, I am, well, a firefighter. I was way off on both of my estimations. It was a 4.2 and was centered 23.48 miles away.

After washing my hands, I flipped on a radio and heard the F.D. going through the post earthquake response procedures and smiled. Totally not required, however a good time to employ the response. Practice how you play!

Though I managed to maintain some form of dignity, this little shake was a reminder of how unsettling earthquakes can be, even to us who experience them all of the time.

Again, apologies to you Virginians, I didn't mean to trivialize your recent event. One question remains however. How on earth did you arrange this event?

Thanks for reading,
Schmoe

Built Like a Brick Outhouse

2011-09-13T10:46:00.000-07:00

Let me start out by apologizing to all of you who live/work/play within 100 miles of Mineral, VA. There are few who like earthquakes less than I and I understand how the sensation of the usually stable ground moving beneath your feet can cause a little concern. Having said that, let me now say magnitude 5.8 wasn't all that much.

I suspect the overwhelming majority of you behaved quite normally and, after the initial surprise wore off, did what you needed to do, then went about your business. Of course the media did not portray that image - it isn't very interesting.

Frankly, I'm extremely grateful that the quake wasn't any bigger. I suspect that seismic building standards are not as stringent in that part of the country as they are in mine. There are probably much bigger issues like ice/snow loading on roofs, R-value insulation ratings and BTU capacity that play a bigger role in the building code. They probably should, those issues are more pressing on a regular basis than the ground moving under one's feet.

As we get measurable snow where I live once every 50 years or so and average 10 inches of rain per year, roof loading isn't as important to us as seismic safety.

When I worked at the Big House, I prayed that I wouldn't be at work when the "big one" hit. Though I was in the building when a couple of good sized temblors occurred, my payers were answered. The Big House is a large brick building, sturdy and well built - though only to the seismic standards in place in 1953 when the building was built.

The lessons of Northridge, Whittier Narrows, Landers, Sylmar and numerous other quakes have taught us that the codes that were in place in 1953 are not really sufficient to protect "essential" structures like fire stations. The city looked at the cost of upgrading the Big House to current standards and found it excessive, especially when coupled with the modernization that the 50+ yr old station needs.

Thus, a new station is being built, one up to the latest seismic standards. I must say, were I still working, I would want to be nowhere else when the "big one" hit, except maybe Nebraska.

Notice all of the diagonal bracing, colored in gray. According to one of the foremen, they are designed to provide lateral stability to the structure in the event of an earthquake. Barely visible in the right side of the photo, are additional diagonal braces. Even more are out of the photo on the left and several are waiting on the ground to be installed. I was told that the gray diagonals are filled with concrete, the red diagonals are conventional steel beams.

I have to think that the center part of this structure is the place to be during an earthquake. I don't remember the floor plan of the building, but if it were up to me, I would try to ensure that the captain's dorm were located on the second floor, directly in the middle. Close to the stairs, hopefully when the shaking stopped, I could make it out of the building before anyone on the crew saw me screaming like an adolescent.

The third floor of the structure is going to be the administrative offices, the Fire Chief, Ops chief and support staff will be located there. There will a pole going from the third floor to the apparatus floor, I can't wait to give that a try, though I would likely take the stairs after a quake.

Prevention is located over at city hall. Although a relatively modern building, I doubt that it is built as tough as this one.

Training and disaster preparedness are located at the city's EOC, another essential building that is built "Ford Tough". I think I still would rather be at the building above though - I saw how it was built.

Casa Schmoe is another matter. Though thoroughly remodeled, it is still a house designed in the '60s. I just hope the boyos from the local house can come dig us and the wiener dogs out before we run out of food. I think the dogs would soon tire of Schmoe as a regular diet and I don't wanna know what wiener dog tastes like.

I will post pictures of the new "Big House" over the coming months, it is supposed to be done within the next 12 months. I'm sure it will be impressive.

Thanks for reading,
Schmoe

2011-09-10T23:45:00.000-07:00

I have been hauling the envelope around for nearly ten years. It was given to me by my son's elementary school teacher in 2001, in the week after the tragic events of 11 September.

After receiving it,I had opened it and had read the thirty or so hand drawn cards, carefully sketched and colored. The written words running the gamut from nearly perfect for a third grader, to the scrawl of less scholarly kids like the younger Schmoe. The messages thanked me/us for our service, told us to be brave and to fear not, God had our backs (this I believe).

When I received the envelope, I was working at the big house of pain. We had nine firefighters plus the B.C. that called thr big house home. As I had promised my kid's teacher, I shared the contents of the envelope with the crew and left the cards on the table for a few days. As a bunch of our members were in New York as part of the USAR response, we were inundated with baked goods, cards and other tokens of appreciation - largely out of remembrance of the sacrifices that our 343 brothers made on that horrific day.. I didn't want the envelope and it's contents lost in the mix, so I recovered the cards and placed them back into the envelope, closed the clasp and placing it into my locker.

I cleaned out my locker a few times over the next few years, each time finding the envelope, opening the contents, reading the cards smiling, shedding a tear - then re-clasping the envelope and returning it to the dark recesses of my locker, to the part where stuff that never gets used reside. At some point, I removed the card that my son made and one that his good friend made and I taped them to the inside of my locker door.

Two more stations, two more lockers and the routine was nearly the same. Find, open, read, sniff, close and return. Kevin and Luke's card taped up n a place of honor on my locker door. I thought about tossing the envelope, frankly I felt unworthy (still do) of the attention garnered on us, based on the tragic deaths of 343 Schmoes, heroic Schmoes, who were called upon to perform heroic acts and perished doing so. I wished there was some way that I could give those cards to those who fell, either at he WTC, the Pentagon or in the field in Shanksville. I knew that to be impossible yet could not toss the envelope into the trash.

Two weeks ago, I cleaned out my locker for the last time. The envelope was tucked safely into the bottom drawer, right where I placed it during the last spring locker cleaning session. The large green trash can, the one from the patio was right there, already full with the manuals, books and other unneeded possessions of a retired fire captain. I nearly tossed it this time, I had already packed Kevin and Luke's card into my "take home" box and could find no logical reason to haul the envelope home - yet I couldn't do it, so into the box the envelope went.

Friday, I drove down to Yorba Linda to the Richard Nixon Presidential Library. I had read where a ladder tower from the FDNY that had been used in controlling the post-collapse fires and a large piece of twisted steel that had once been a part of the WTC were to be on display. I thought that perhaps I could take the envelope and perhaps it on the ladder tower or on the beam. I figured that would be as close as I would ever get to delivering it to the people who deserved getting it.

It was my lucky day. "Friday light" traffic and a beautiful fall day.. I arrived and saw the display. Many people were slowly walking around the displays, pausing and reflecting on that day and what it meant to them. It was a somber scene, one filled with quiet reverence.

I briefly left the display and attended a presentation by Chris Kawai, a B.C. for LAFD, who had responded to the WTC disaster as part of the USAR response. His show was well done, using words, music and images to present the disaster, the response to it and his impressions and reflections.

After the presentation, I returned to the display and found even more people there, though the somber, quiet mood was still prevalent. I waited for the crowd to thin, then unclasped the envelope and read the cards, just one more time.

I picked out three of my favorites and returned the rest to the envelope. I arranged the envelope and the three cards on the beam, with all three cards visible. I took a few pictures and thought of leaving them all of them there, tokens of my appreciation and remembrance of the sacrifices made on that day. Mine and that of Miss Smith's third grade class.

I didn't know what would happen to them, whether they would be stored, whether they would travel with the rig and the steel to the next display or whether they would simply be tossed at the end of the day.

In the end, I couldn't do it. Apparently, I have too much invested to the envelope and it's contents.

Perhaps it is because the world changed on that day, not only for me but for a class of third graders who will likely not remember what the world was like before the events of 11 September 2001.

Maybe it's because the envelope is a physical link between me and 343 brothers who I never had the opportunity to meet. Brothers with whom I had a lot in common and some differences. Brothers who I would have welcomed into my station and into my home.

Maybe it's just because that envelope somehow represents the tragedy and enormity of the events that occurred on that day and that I'm just not ready to let it go.

Regardless, I still have the envelope and I realize that any thought of disposing of it is just me fooling myself.

Rest in peace my FDNY brothers and all of the other responders who were mudered for just doing your jobs. Rest in peace all of you Service Members who died at the Pentagon and all you civilians who died at the WTC, the Pentagon and on Flight 93. Finally, rest in peace to those of you hero-warriors who won the battle of Shanksville, God's grace on you all.

The envelope belongs to them, it is not mine to destroy.

Schmoe

The Endless Summer

2011-09-07T09:38:00.000-07:00

My brothers and sisters in Texas are getting their butts handed to them once again. A drought that won't end, extremely adverse weather conditions and heavy fuels have created an endless fire season. A record 3.5 million acres have burned since last November, an area slightly larger than that of Connecticut.

The Atlantic has compiled some of the best images from the unfolding disasters in Texas and has posted them here as part if their "In Focus" photo blog. They give a great representation of what is happening down there and are worth a look.

This video was posted by the Associated Press, though it looks like it was shot by the Texas Dept. of Parks and Wildlife.

It gives you an idea how fast a wind-driven fire can move. As you can see, you wouldn't want to be in front of it trying to get out of the way. Add some slope, a bunch of tools and safety gear and you can see why having escape routes, safety zones and trigger points lined up ahead of time are so important. I would hate to figure all of that stuff out with the dragon breathing up your backside.

For those of us in my neck of the woods, the peak of fire season usually hits during the end of September, October and early November - though we get major wildfires throughout the year. For us it's a matter of chance. What is going to come first - the devil winds or the rain.

Be safe my brothers and sisters in Texas.

Thanks for reading,
Schmoe

How it Was

2011-09-05T22:25:00.000-07:00

On the advice of fellow blogger Mad Jack, here are some photos and commentary on last weeks vegetation fire. The original post can be found here. In it, I lamented about how the conditions were not the best for taking photos, with the smoke inhibiting the the quality of the photos.

As I walked up the road from the clear air into the smoke, I knew that getting quality images would be a challenge. I stopped to snap this while I still was in the clear, in a few moments later I was in the smoke.

When I neared the engine, I looked over to my right and saw these guys stretching a line getting ready to go to to work. Though the smoke wasn't bad from a firefighter's perspective, from a photographer's point of view it was bad enough.

Even closer shots are affected.

The crew finished making the needed connections and began to disappear into the smoke, I began walking back down the road. A short time later, the wind shifted slightly and I was more or less in the clear again.

Homeowners tend to get a little excited when the dragon shows up at their back fence. I had chatted with this gentleman earlier and had told him what was going to happen and what to look for. He and his property came through it just fine. I must also add that he had done a pretty good job keeping the weeds down on his property. That, as much as anything else, was the main factor in keeping his property safe.

Of course if there are aircraft involved, I will be working to get pictures of that.

If you look closely, you can see the firefighters in the background mopping up the fire. It was a very short time after this photo was shot that I walked back to my vehicle and went home. These guys were still here, getting it done. It was down to the mid 90's at that point, so I was glad to grab a cold frosty and kick it with the wife. These guys were out there for several more hours, then back to the station for a lengthy clean-up.

I should feel guilty, but I don't!

Winner, Winner Chicken Dinner!

2011-09-04T20:33:00.000-07:00

Well folks, here we are. Thanks to all who submitted an entry, I really enjoyed reading them all. Let me say that I am surprised on several counts. First of all, I am surprised that I was able to keep my agency a secret for the 28 months that I have been writing this blog. Second, I am really surprised how close most of your entries were to my agency.

When I announced the contest, I was surprised at the number of people who took some time and went through the archives, researching and trying to figure it out. Maybe that research helped to come up with the closer guesses.

Of the entries received, San Bernardino County Fire was the number one guess, with it accounting for 25% of the entries. Riverside County Fire was the #2 guess with 15% and Contra Costa County came in third with 10%. None of the above were the winning entry.

The remainder of the entries were guesses from around the state, with most of them being in the south. A couple of the entries were really really close, I'll write more on those in a bit.

One entry correctly guessed my agency.

Rambling Chief, a fellow blogger, submitted the winning entry on August 31st. He correctly identified the City of Riverside Fire Dept. (RIV) as my employer, where I worked for the past 28 years. Congratulations to him, I hope he enjoys his "new to him" flashlight.

For the past 7 years or so, I have been assigned to Sta. #13, the best designed station that I have ever worked in. I was lucky to get that assignment and I know it.

One entry, posted by Thomas guessed Riverside County Fire, probably Sta. #6. That is a remarkable guess as we once shared that station with them, back in the day before The Healing Place was built. County Sta. #6 serves the City of Moreno Valley, which shares our eastern border. They are literally a two minute code- three drive from my station.

FireLady was just a little less specific, guessing Moreno Valley Fire. Again just next door and a very good guess.

Another interesting entry was from Brenton H, who guessed Riverside County Fire, Sycamore Creek Station. Although that station (RVC sta. #64) is about thirty miles from us, it is remarkable as we have a station known as the Sycamore Canyon Station. Pretty close to the pin if you ask me.

I must admit that a part of me will miss blogging anonymously, though I won't miss editing and cropping photos in order to hide their origin.

It would have taken me 30 minutes or more to "sanitize" this shot!

I will be writing about more about my agency in the future. It was a pretty good place to work.

Thanks to all who entered the "Closest to the Pin" contest and congrats to Rambling Chief for getting the ball into the cup. Thanks to you for reading,

A grateful Schmoe

Musings

2011-09-03T21:49:00.000-07:00

I looked through the viewfinder and brought the subject into focus. My subject was a young man, one that I hadn't seen for many, many years. The last time I remember seeing him, he was probably 7 or eight years old. Now he is a university graduate and is sitting for his mugshot portrait and his ID card photo. Today was his second day on the job as a firefighter for my agency.

I briefly worked for his grandfather in the eighties. If I remember correctly, his grandfather is the only person that I know who has been blown into the street twice from natural gas explosions. His grandfather was a captain on B shift and although I wasn't assigned on his crew, I did work for him while swinging through on vacation relief. I always like his grandfather, he treated us fair and made sound decisions. You can't ask for much more than that.

I also worked for the young man's father several years ago. He was my battalion chief for several years after I transferred up the hill. We also deployed to New Orleans together as part of the hurricane Katrina response. We got along well, he allowed me to do my job and forgave my transgressions when I crossed the line. One of these days, I would like to have a few beers with him and discuss a few things. Maybe verify a few perceptions of mine or disprove a few others. Now that I am retired, he just might reveal a few things.

Now, as I photograph the third generation of this young's family to be a firefighter with us, I find the irony of missing working with him by a week. I'll bet that there aren't a whole lot of folks who can say that they have worked with three generations of firefighter from the same family. I missed it by only a few days.

*****
Our administration has a wall with the photograph of every member posted on it. It is laid out kind of like an organizational chart, with the management team on top and the operations division separated by shift and laid out in order by seniority in rank. I don't know who updates the mugshot wall, but they are doing a good job of it. I walked by it today and noticed that my photo is already gone and the man who was promoted into my position has already been moved to the last position of the C shift captain's spot.

In a few days, the photos that I took today will be added to the very bottom of the mugshot wall. In what will seem like only a few days for most, those photos now at the bottom of the wall will work their up the wall. With luck and hard work, maybe one or two of them will be at the top of the wall - up in the management team's section. Good luck with that folks, just don't screw up my beloved department in the process.

*****

As the new firefighters filed into the room, I asked them where they were going to be assigned and who their captains were going to be. Three of them are going onto my former shift, one will be assigned to my replacement at the busiest single company house in the department. Another one of the new firefighters is going to be assigned to a former engineer of mine, one whose dad I worked for back in the eighties. All of the new employees are going to busy stations, always a good assignment for a boot.

Another group will have to be brought on board before the end of the year. This will be a smaller group, probably four or five people. One or two of this smaller group might not be so lucky, they may end up at a slower house. They will likely do well with their studies and drills, but they may not get as much experience as they (and we) would like. Hopefully, those assigned to slower stations will rotate into the big house or other busy station. The big house is an experience that everyone should have, at least for a while. It's where firefighters are made.

Thanks for reading,
Schmoe

How It Is

2011-09-01T23:34:00.000-07:00

I was able to drive up the boulevard and park my jeep near the command post before the cops got serious about traffic control. I was happy about that, sometimes accessing the scene is a chore. I always get in, it's the grief I get during the process that is trying.

Although it only took me 15 minutes or so to get there, the fire had already made its primary run into the neighborhood and had butted up against a greenbelt., slowing the fire spread. Secondary runs were in progress - it was one of those I was hoping to capture.

I checked in with the chiefs and let them know I was there. I snapped a few pictures of the Ops chief and the BC, poring over maps, talking on the radio and doing other chiefly duties. While not usually the most intense photos, they can be dramatic as they capture momentary facial expressions that sometimes show pressure and stress.

They scene was still dynamic, with units arriving, then hurrying to their assignments. The radio frequencies were crowded with the arriving units receiving their assignments and other units giving reports to the division supervisors as to what was going on. As a result, I opted to leave the vehicle where it was and huff it up into the neighborhood. The last thing I wanted to do was get in the way.

I walked up an access road, the smoke blowing through the trees lining the edges. I walked past a couple of engines, their crews donning hose packs in preparation of punching in a hose lay up the left flank. I knew most of these guys and I waved to them as I strode through the thick smoke.

I stopped to reassure a homeowner as he used a garden hose to hose down bare dirt. I offered some advice, hinting that maybe hosing down his reed fence or patrolling the backyard for smokes might be more productive than squirting dirt. His nervousness may have caused him to forget that bare soil doesn't burn.

I moved on, looking for that elusive shot where lighting, flames, smoke and firefighters all do what I needed them to do in order to capture a good image. I was disappointed, it was more like all of the components of the event were conspiring against me, keeping me from doing my work.

I walked back down the road and found that several of the engines had been pulled from that location as a higher priority assignment had been received. I was alone and when the wind shifted ever so slightly, I was able to see out over the incident and get a glimpse of what was happening in that division. Sadly, the smoke was still bad enough to make a good photo impossible. I snapped a few anyway - you never know for sure until they are downloaded whether they are acceptable or not.

After a few minutes, I spotted an unmarked SUV drive up the road. I recognized it as the Fire Chief. we chatted for a few minutes and I snapped a photo of him moving some hose that had been left behind when the units were repositioned. I caught a ride with him down to the command post and snapped a few more pics of the brass in action before deciding that things were dying down and my opportunities were greatly reduced.

I walked to my jeep, watching my brothers mopping up the mess as I walked. I took off my brush jacket and helmet, stowed my camera and headed home, waving at the chiefs as I drove by.

I walked in the door and found The Saint kicking back with her feet up. I grabbed a cold beverage and joined her. We chatted and I shared with her my activities, noting that my friends were still there, climbing, spraying, grubbing and picking up, meanwhile I was kicking back, talking to a pretty girl and drinking a cold drink.

When I run into people, it is almost inevitable that they will ask me how retired life is. I will think of this afternoon and I will say "pretty damn good". That's how it is.

Thanks for reading,
Schmoe

Closest To The Pin Update.

2011-08-31T14:21:00.000-07:00

My "Big Ed" 4C is still up for grabs! Although there are several folks "on the green", no one has hit it in the cup and there is still room between the closest marker and the pin. I gotta tell ya, I'm having a good time reading the entries. I'm surprised that no one has guessed it yet, but I must say I did work pretty hard disguising my agency. Maybe it worked!

In case you missed it, details on the Closest to the Pin contest can be found here.. If you have an idea of where I worked, click on the link, read the details and submit an entry. You might just be right.

Thanks for reading,
Schmoe

Thanks

2011-08-31T07:33:00.000-07:00

Last night at about 1800 hrs, I walked out of the back door of the station, climbed in my ride and drove home. For the first time since 1981, I am no longer a firefighter. Trust me I'm OK with it, though it is a little weird.

Thanks to all of the people that helped make my last day a memorable one. Thanks to the members of my crew for putting up with the farewell tour, the phone calls and the chaos that my last cycle brought. Thanks to the members of my agency for the kind words, hugs, calls and visits during my last few days.

Thanks to my East coast brothers Willie "Iron Firemen" Wines, Rhett "The Fire Critic" Fleitz and Dave "Statter 911" Statter for their calls, kind words and advice.

A special thanks to Capt. Lussen from the R.F.D. for his kind offer, one that only "airplane geeks" like us can appreciate.

And finally, thanks to all of you readers for your kind words, support and your readership. You rock!

Schmoe

Pic O' the Week

2011-08-30T21:59:00.000-07:00

A probationary firefighter performs a hose-lay evolution during his six-month practical exam. This guy performed very well, mainly because he is an animal. It was about 90 when this was taken, about two hours into his test. His performance did not taper off, despite the heat or the length of the exam. He was ready and it showed. Well done to him and his crew.

I chose this photo for pic o' the week for several reasons. Mainly, I kinda like the way it came out. Secondly, I took my six month exam on an August day 28 years ago, this shoot brought back a lot of memories. I may have to print this one up and put it on the training division wall.

*****

Don't forget to enter the Closest to the Pin contest and win my Big Ed 4C flashlight, there are still a few days left to enter.

Thanks for reading,

Schmoe

Closest to the Pin contest

2011-08-29T17:54:00.000-07:00

It's contest time here at Report on Conditions. In celebration of my retirement, I will be giving away my back-up Pelican Products "Big Ed" 4C flashlight. It is used, but only slightly so. It has never seen fire, my primary Big Ed has never let me down so my back up has never been used at work.

It is an awesome light and comes completed with my true name and ID number scrawled on it with magic marker. True desert rat labeling!

The coveted Big Ed will go to the first reader who guesses what agency I actually work for. In the event that no one guesses correctly, the one who guesses the fire protection agency geographically closest to mine will be awarded the prize.

Each reader is allowed one guess and ALL ENTRIES MUST BE RECEIVED BY 1930 hrs Pacific time on Sept. 4 2011..

Entries must be submitted via the comments section for this post. The winner will be announced in the evening of Sept. 4 and will be announced by a post on this blog. Please include a valid e-mail address in your entry. YOUR E-MAIL ADDRESS WILL NOT BE PUBLISHED OR USED IN ANY OTHER WAY THAN TO CONTACT YOU REGARDING SHIPMENT OF YOUR BIG ED. Other parts of your entry/comment may be published in this blog.

If your guess is the winner, I will e-mail you a request for a shipping address. and the prize will go out in a few days.

Here it is folks, a chance to win a piece of Schmoe firefighting history. Use it at work, keep it in your car or keep it as a collectable.

I appreciate your readership and I wish you good luck.

PS Sorry Willie, I gotta exclude you, you know too much.You too Rhett. Statter, I don't know

Thanks for reading, Schmoe

Thaere is No Free Lunch

2011-08-27T20:17:00.000-07:00

Of course, karma (I don't believe in karma BTW) rears it's ugly head and makes me pay for the awesome day we had on the first shift.

Summer finally came to my corner of the desert and boy is she pissed! This summer has been abnormally cool. First July, then August have had cool nights followed by relatively cool days. There have been a few hot days here and there, but we really have skated through so far.

We knew it was going to be hot yesterday, so the plan was to get the outside stuff out of the way, then try and stay cool through the afternnon and into the evening. We accomplished the morning stuff ok, a repair to a disaster preparedness trailer was completed before it reached 90, outside maintenance was done shortly thereafter. I wanted to get an inspection done before lunch, but a visit from an insurance company rep spoiled that. Finally, we ate around 12:30 and I developed the plan for the afternoon.

Plan "A":: Start packaging up my uniforms, spare PPE and other issued equipment and get it ready to turn in. I don't want to have to count and inventory that stuff on Tuesday. I also wanted to finish clearing out my desk, work on my locker and start giving away stuff that I will no longer need. The plan was in place and I had found a home for my strike team bag when I heard the tones hit for the next two stations down from us.

Vegetation fire, numerous calls received. Did I mention that it was hot? It was 106 when that call went out, light west wind with 21% humidity. I knew the location, it used to be part of our district until they opened up 14's. Eric (my engineer and recipient of my strike team bag) wandered in. I told him to get his boots on, we were going to get involved with this.

The chief saw smoke from a ways away and called for a second. Our tones hit 2 minutes later.We arrived on scene and were eventually assigned to protect a structure that was out in front of the fire.

Schmoe, hoping the fire gets pinched off before backing down

the hill and coming out of the draw. If you look close, you can

crews from Cal-Fire working around the rocks. Due to our
combinedefforts, the fire was pinched off. Eric took this
shot with my camera.

We were lucky in that the fire was going to have to burn back down the hill before it got to us and that the property owner had done a reasonably good job in clearing the brush. When the fire slowed down after cresting the hill, it gave the two hose lays time to pinch it off and the fire never got to us. Several water drops from the State helicopter didn't hurt either.

Still, the process took several hours and it was dinner time by the time we were released. Naturally, being "the cover bitches" we were sent to another station rather than the healing place. We decided to get dinner at a locally famous sandwich shop and take it to the cover station. While waiting for our food I came up with a plan to salvage the day.

Plan"B" - return to the barn, help the guys wash down the engine and roll some hose. Package the items from above toss some unneeded crap and write a quick post. Plan "B" was in affect for less than five minutes. As we were getting on the engine with our food, we were sent to a structure fire at an apartment complex.

Did I mention that it was hot? I took a weather reading at 1800, it was 102.

As it turned out, the apartment itself was not on fire, but an underground transformer had catastrophically failed. The transformer was located next to the building and as a result, it was decided to evacuate to buildings. Some of us have seen these go, it is quite spectacular when they do.

We got everybody out, but I had to post my crew at various locations around the building as the occupants kept trying to re-enter the structure.

As the city was blowing up with electrical issues, we had to wait for quite a while before the utilities dept. could make it out and secure the transformer. We finally got released around 2100, rolled into our station around 21:20. I looked at the mess, realized how beat I was and developed another plan.

Plan "C": Shower, hit the sack. Get up a 0500 or so and get as much done as I can before shift change. That lasted until 0130, when a drunk decided to rear-end a SUV, causing it to turn into a bowling ball. Three injures, all minor, AMAs all around. It could have been a quick mission, but as the location of the call was at a bad spot on the freeway, the troopers asked if we could continue to block the scene for them. I agreed, I was fearful for them as well as us. We stood by while the scene was cleared. Sorry, no pictures of this, an arrest and possible litigation is involved, I don't want my stuff subpenaed.

We got back about 0245, it was 0330 by the time I turned out the light. I woke up at 0630 and developed plan "D".

Plan "D": Screw it. Stuff everything into a closet and deal with it next shift. Don't be so anal with a count and all of that, the uniforms are going to be made into rags anyways. The safety gear will be processed by the equipment manager - just stuff it in a bag. Let the chief worry about the rest. Stuff I want to keep, just throw into a box and dump it into the garage. I will probably toss that stuff in a few months anyways.

Plan "D" is the one that will succeed. Whoever said that adaptability is the key to success in the fire service was absolutely right.

Thanks for reading,
Schmoe

Best Damn Shift Ever

2011-08-25T01:55:00.000-07:00

Today starts my last cycle as a firefighter. We hit the ground running with a quick T/C on the freeway and a sheared off hydrant at a large warehouse. Both of those occurred with our first hour of duty time. The T/C was no big, the next station down arrived first and took care of business before we arrived.

Moments after returning to the station, we get punched out for a ringing alarm at a large furniture warehouse, which is located just down the street from the station. The warehouse has an ESFR sprinkler system, which requires a large flow, plus the fire load itself mandates a large amount of water. One thing we have plenty of around here is water supply.

This is a private hydrant and is connected to the fire pump for the building. Thus, when the water started moving, the pump kicked in and the alarm went off. Hence, our response.

I felt kind of bad for the driver of the truck, he didn't go to work today thinking that he was going to kill a hydrant. We called the BC up and he ran a hydrant key out to us. We pulled the cap to the valve and started closing it off. About that time, a couple of guys from the water district showed up and as they had a better, faster key, we let them finish closing the valve. The half hour or so that the water was flowing probably works out to about 100,000 gallons of water, all of it metered. That will be an exiting water bill next month.

Lunch time rolled around and I had lunch with the Chief of the Department, the Deputy Chief, Fire Marshal, Special Ops Chief, my boss and the BC from battalion 2. We met at a local restaurant and the Chief picked up my tab. The lunch that's free is the lunch for me! It was a great time, with much reminiscing and remembering, especially of brothers no longer with us. I got a little choked up as we have been through a lot over the years, it starts to hit home when you realize that it's nearly over.

After lunch, my boss and I returned to the station and B.S.ed for another hour or so. As we were talking, the doorbell rang and the two guys from the water district were there with a brand new hydrant key, one of the fancy ones. The talked their boss into giving it to us. Talk about Christmas in August!

I gotta be honest, we haven't been real productive around the healing place the past few shifts. Some of the stuff that I usually worry about just doesn't seem as important right now. We gave a tour to the water district guys, did a little maintenance then kind of goofed off this afternoon.

About 5 PM, I walked past the day room and heard voices that sounded familiar, yet I knew that they didn't belong to the crew. I looked in and saw my kid standing there, talking to my medic. A nice surprise to be sure, made even nicer by my other son and his girlfriend sitting in the recliners. I figured out something was up. One kid stopping by is a surprise, both of them showing up is a conspiracy.

Wouldn't ya know it, before I can grill them as to what is up, we get a TC on the freeway, this one in the construction zone. This time, we are first in. It's a rollover, the driver may be a little borracho muchacho, but does not appear to be hurt too bad. He doesn't want to go, but we convince him that we may be a better option than the po-po.

We hang out till the carcass of the car is removed, then head back to the barn. As we pull up, I see my wife's truck in the lot and the chief's buggy is parked behind the apparatus floor. Party time at the healing place!

My engineer had bought some amazing steaks, big porterhouses - like the ones on the Flintstones. He mashed some taters and cooked some squash and sauteed onions and mushrooms. He is a great cook and outdid himself on this one! The Chief bought my favorite pie, a perfect ending to an amazing feast.

The meal was great, good food combined with great people, all of whom I care for greatly. Just as we started the dishes, the tones hit again, this time for another ringing alarm at a nationally known soft drink bottling plant. It takes us awhile, but we find the problem. A broken sprinkler head, likely damaged by a ceiling fan which was in close proximity. It took nearly an hour to resolve the issue and issue the paperwork.

When we returned to the station, everyone was gone and the dishes were done. A couple of hours of paperwork and here we are.

What a great freaking day. They should all be as good as this.

Sorry for the hack editing of the images and the jagged paragraphs. It's almost 0200 and my quality control is not up to snuff.

Thanks for reading,
A grateful Schmoe

I Have a Dream

2011-08-23T06:34:00.000-07:00

I have a dream. I dream of a blog where I don't have to airbrush the name of my agency out of photographs before publishing them. I dream of writing about the good things that the people in my agency are doing, without having to alter names, ages genders and assignments. I dream of people from my community, my agency and from the fire service all being able to read about what's going on and see images of us in action. I have a dream of publishing photos that have not been cropped in order to eliminate clues as to where they originate.

I have a dream of being able to promote my blog to people I know and not having to keep what I do a secret. I have a dream of being able to have guests posts (besides my idiot brother) that will present material that shows others point of view. I have a dream of showcasing other agencies in my area and the good things that they do.

Is it possible, or is it just a dream?

Wish me luck.

Thanks for reading,
Schmoe

Deal O' the Day

2011-08-21T22:08:00.000-07:00

Firefighters are the cheapest guys I know. Well, maybe the second cheapest. Cops are probably the cheapest, they don't get as much OT and they are too used to getting a little "love" from the local restaurants. Firefighters usually are cheap in order to save a few bucks, amass their savings and then spend the money on toys or on their four days and six days.

I know guys that will spend a week researching something, just to safe a buck or two on a minor purchase. The amazing thing is, that when they are sitting around the kitchen table, bragging about what a great deal they got on something, there is ALWAYS another guy who will have topped it and gotten an even better deal.

I found something that just might make it harder for that other guy at the kitchen table to beat your deal. Daily 911 Deals is a web site that offers fire, police and ems stuff at a deep discount. They make deals with manufacturers and suppliers to obtain large quantities of merchandise at a deep discount, then pass the savings on to us.

They just went live a few hours ago, and posted the first "deal". It's for one of those fleece "job" shirts, one with canvas elbow patches and a canvas collar. It's from Game Sportswear and it's made in the U.S. We call 'em extreme winter parkas where I come from, we can wear them any time it gets really cold and the temperature drops below 65 degrees.

They are blowing 50 of them out at 1/2 off regular price for only a few days. I think it works out to $34. I already have three of them, or I'd be jumping all over this deal. Well, that and the fact that I only have a few shifts left.

Actually, as I paid for two of them (a helluva a lot more than $34 I might add) and I'm kyping a third from the special team that I am on, I plan on keeping them and wearing them this winter when I am out shootong pics for Hometown, Local and the Kinda big Fire protection District. I will be warm and fashionable!

Stop by the site and check out the deal. I don't think it can be topped.

Thanks for reading,
Schmoe

I've been wating my life! Control+f keys save time and effort!

2011-08-21T10:45:00.000-07:00

How many times have you searched for a topic and been led to a bajillion page document that had the info you needed, but it took for ever to find it? It happens to me all of the time, especially when doing research on historical or technical subjects.

I, like most people, scan the document looking for the key words that pertain to what I am looking for. Sometimes, the reference is so hidden that I give up and move to the next recommendation. I have wasted hours and hours scanning for the elusive information.

Apparently, my efforts were unnecessary. Google has had a solution to my problem all along, but wasn't very good at letting people know about it. All you have to do is hit "control+f" and a small bar comes up at the bottom of the page. Enter a key word and the document will be searched for that word. When found, it will be highlighted.

Many of you probably knew this, but according to Google's research, 90% of us don't! Google has researchers who study how we search for things on the web. They determined that 90% of us will manually read the document or the index, scanning for the info, when control+f would have done the same thing in a second or two.

Who knew?

The article that I found on the matter can be found here:

http://search.slashdot.org/story/11/08/20/0056221/Most-People-Have-Never-Heard-of-CTRLF?utm_source=feedburnerGoogle+Reader&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Slashdot%2Fslashdot+%28Slashdot%29&utm_content=Google+Reader

I tried it and found that it works.

I hope this helps some of you out in your quest for knowledge. I am, after all. here to help!

Thanks for reading,
Schmoe

Sweat Equity

2011-08-17T22:41:00.000-07:00

I ordered a new lens for my camera. As my residential status is still in limbo, I had it shipped to the training division, where someone would be there to sign for it and I wouldn't have to worry about it sitting on my porch.

I have been wanting this lens for a while, so when it arrived, I couldn't wait to try it out. I unboxed it inside the classroom, then walked ouside and scanned the horizon. Damn, no giant columns of smoke were visible, I guess no fire action today.

I then walked out to the drill grounds. As it was about 100 degrees and nearing lunchtime, there were no units present, pulling hose or throwing ladders. I did see some activity over by some old conexes, so I wandered over there and found one of our newer captains hard at work.

Rich is toiling away on building us a flash-over training prop. The prop is being constructed from two used conexes, steel stock, cement blocks and cement board. The training division looked into having a flash-over simulator built and found the $80,000 price tag a little out of reach. Rich is building this one for $10,000.

Rich consulted with another agency that had built their own flash-over simulator and decided to get to work. Depending on the training schedule, he tries to get down to the tower in the morning and work until noon, then return to his station. He hopes to be done with it by December.

A couple of other guys are working on a vertical ventilation prop and a smoke maze. All are constructed out of old conexes and will provide needed props at a reasonable cost. If it weren't for the initiative and extra effort from these guys, we wouldn't be getting these props.

We are rapidly becoming a "young" agency. Most of the old bastards like me will be gone in the next few years and a batch of youngsters will be taking our place. These props will be helping to bring these youngsters up to speed, providing realistic training environment in a cost effective manner.

Rich sweats (remember it was 100 degrees when I snapped this pic) and the K.B.F.P.D. wins. Through his efforts, we are saving close to 70 grand. Sweat equity indeed.

Thanks for reading,
Schmoe

PS - think of the photo ops a flash-over prop will bring! Yee Haw!

short timin'

2011-08-16T06:53:00.000-07:00

The last few weeks have just been dragging. Once the barrier of making the decision was broken and the process started, time, especially while at work, has slowed to a crawl. I have started the process of thinning out the locker full of crap that I have accumulated during my time here. Much will be given away, some tossed, some used and some kept.

A photographic project that I have been working on has required that I visit many of the stations and facilities that we operate. As a result, I have seen some people that I have not seen for quite a while. Many have heard that I was leaving, some not. Some I will not likely see professionally again, maybe a few never at all. I have also met a few people for the first time - at least I don't remember meeting them before.

I am trying to finish a few assignments up before I leave, mainly our assigned fire prevention inspections. I want to have that mess cleaned up before my replacement arrives. I am going to leave him one though, a Jack in the Box restaurant located up the street from the station. It should be in compliance, a piece of cake, and I want to leave it for Turrow as a parting gift.

My boss called the other day. He was visiting the big house and the guys there told him they had heard I was getting cold feet and was thinking of changing my mind. He, being a bull by the horns kind of guy, called my station and got me on the line. He asked if he could put me on speaker phone, a request which I consented to. He then asked me if the cold feet rumor was true. I laughed then asked how that one got started. I could hear the crew of the big house in the background, but no one wanted to answer that one. I assured them that barring some apocalyptic event, I was indeed out at the end of the month. That my friends, is how one dispels rumors!

I have a meeting with the Chief of the department at the end of next week, I need to nail down some details on a new project and clarify my role as dept. photographer after my separation. I anticipate that it will go well, wish me luck - it is a trying time at the K.B.F.P.D. right now.

As write this, the smell of fresh coffee is drifting under the dorm door - a reminder that I need to finish this up and get ready to turn things over to the C shift. I'm starting days off and am burning a vacation day, I would like to start getting ready to move back into my house over the weekend. We'll see.

Thanks as always for reading,
Schmoe

Unusual Rescue

2011-08-14T22:15:00.000-07:00

I have been to water rescues. I have been to elevator rescues. I have never been to an elevator water rescue and I bet that most of you haven't either. Well, the crew of FDNY ladder 86 have and I'm sure that they were talking about it for at least the rest of the shift.

The New York Times ran a story about the incident, it can be found here.

In a nutshell, two construction workers rode an elevator down into a flooded basement and were unable to egress the elevator or get it to return to the ground floor. The men used a cell-phone to call the fire dept, but did not know the address of the building that they were in.

After about an hour, the crews finally found the men, who by that time were standing on top of a service cart inside the elevator, with water up to their necks. The firefighters used a small ladder and placed it through the top hatch of the car, allowing the trapped men to escape into the hoist-way. The men escaped uninjured.

It never fails to amaze me what kind of jams we can get ourselves into. Job security I guess.

Thanks for reading,
Schmoe

Schmoe the Turd

2011-08-14T15:42:00.000-07:00

I don't mean to be a turd, I just sometimes am. I really try and get done what I say I am going to get done, it's just that sometimes something else rears it's ugly head and I fail to follow through. Then, when I have resolved the new issue, I sometimes forget to get back on what I started.

I have no excuse, other than it's a character flaw - I am sometimes a turd.

One of the things that I have been going to do for quite a while is add Rambling Chief to my blogroll. Rambling Chief is a Chief Officer for a Wildland Firefighting organization (one of the big ones I believe) and has a website with links, resources and the blog. There is also an association with a site called Wildfiretube.com that posts videos related to wildfires and other disasters.

Both sites are well done, I have enjoyed them both for quite a while and should have linked to them a long time ago except for the fact that I am, quite frankly, a turd. Check 'em out.

Thanks for reading,
Schmoe